Settle, Yorkshire, England. Further historical information.

SETTLE

SETTLE, a market-town, in the parish of Giggleswick, west-division and liberty of Staincliffe; 10 miles from Ingleton, 11, from Gisburn, 15 from Kettlewell, 16 from Skipton, 17 from Kirby Lonsdale, (Westm.) 21 from Dent, 22 from Hawes, 26 from Askrigg, 57 from York, 235 from London. Market, Tuesday. Fairs, Tuesday before Palm Sunday, Thursday before Good Friday, and every other Friday till Whitsuntide, for cattle; April 26, for sheep, lambs, and horses; Whit Tuesday, for pedlary; August 19, for cattle and leather, 20 for sheep and lambs, 21, for pedlary; Tuesday after October 27; and every other Monday throughout the year, for fat cattle. Bankers, Messrs. Birbecks, Alcock, and Co. draw on Messrs. Barnard, Dimsdale, and Co. 50, Cornhill. Principal Inn, Golden Lion. Pop. 1,508.

Settle, the capital of Ribblesdale, is an irregular built town, but very picturesque, has a large and spacious market place, and some good houses in it, incongruously mixed with others of a very inferior complexion. Under the cross is the Gaol, entered by a trap door down a flight of steps, and only lighted by a small grate above the door. The situation of Settle is on the east bank of the Ribble, and under that well known conical rock, called Castleberg, backed by a cluster of rugged crags, and anciently crowned with a fortification. The summit of Castleberg once formed the gnomen of a rude but magnificent Sun Dial, the shadow of which passing over some grey stones upon its side, marked the progress of time to the inhabitants of the town beneath; an instrument more ancient than the dial of Ahaz. But the hour marks have long been removed, and few remember the history of their old benefactor, whose shadow now takes its daily tour unobserved. --Whitaker's Craven. --Northern Star.

At Settle is a National School, on the plan of Dr. Bell, which is supported by subscription.

Settle forms part of the Percy-Fee, and is included in a charter of free warren, obtained by Henry Percy, in the 4th Edward II. along with "Gygleswyke and Routhonel."

"On the Fells east of Settle, and near Wardale Knots, are two Rocking Stones, the larger of which is of an altar shape, about the height of a table, and of immense weight, yet moveable with one finger; and when in motion, making a noise like distant thunder." --Whitaker's Craven.

In this town was born, Thomas Proctor, whose merit as a sculptor, justly places him among the first of the British artists. His works, though few, are uncommonly fine. Whoever has his model of Ixion, is in possession of a treasure, which ought to be guarded with the greatest vigilance, it being, without dispute, one of the first productions of the British school; and would have done honour to the best times of Greece or Rome. He was a exemplary and might genius, and his merits have been celebrated by Mr. West, in one of his discourses. His fine group of Diomedes devoured by his horses, would have become a point of national taste; but, alas! he dashed it to pieces in a fit of despair, because he could not procure fifty pounds for that sublime labour. He died, like Raphael, in the meridian of his days, and full of honour. He sunk, unaccountably, under the public neglect, when a small sum would have preserved a valuable life. --Dayes' Tour.