Dr Buck’s House

Saving Dr Buck’s House: Elgar’s Yorkshire

In August 2023, the North Craven Building Preservation Trust acquired the former NatWest Bank building in Settle Market Place, known as Dr Buck’s House for its association with one of its previous owners, Dr Charles W. Buck (1851-1932), local GP and lifelong friend of Sir Edward Elgar, whose frequent visits to Settle for around two decades from 1882 are commemorated by a plaque on the building.

This Grade II listed Georgian merchant house was built around 1787 as part of a block of property owned by John Constantine, a butcher, which also included two dwelling houses on the west side, a dwelling/shop on the north side, a currier’s shop, barns, yards, two gardens and an orchard. Dr Buck’s House is now in urgent need of repair, having stood empty for over five years. The Trust’s plans include complete renovation, using the project as a case study for carbon-neutral conversion of listed buildings, and making it sustainable for long-term community use. We intend to create three new apartments on the upper floors to address a need for long-term local housing.

Importantly, we will be refurbishing the ground floor as a cultural space that will benefit local people by providing a hub for local information and by installing a new, free to enter, museum gallery relating to Sir Edward Elgar and the inspiration he drew from this area of the Yorkshire Dales, for everyone to enjoy. We hope to encourage civic pride and greater engagement with the collections of the Museum of North Craven Life. As a sustainable means of saving a building of importance to the community, we will also install a small museum retail and information space, encouraging visitors to explore Settle’s heritage attractions, including The Folly, our Grade I listed flagship building.

If you can help us reach our fundraising target of £350,000, please consider making a donation via the Charities Aid Foundation button below or learn about other ways to help.