Hello! We are Ashleigh and Jess, the two new digital content volunteers at the Museum of North Craven Life – don’t worry, we are still working out what that title means too…
Hi everyone! Ashleigh, here, I was born in Wakefield and raised in Halifax so I am a born and bred ‘Yorkshire Lass’. However, I did have a brief stint in the midlands where I completed my BA in History of Art at the University of Warwick. In the second year of my BA, I spent a term abroad in Venice, Italy. In Italy, I truly began to appreciate the cultural offerings available in Museums and Art Galleries and so with my return to England, I began volunteering FOH at various museums and art festivals across the UK. Now, I am ready to step behind the curtain (or screen) and begin a new venture at the Museum of North Craven Life as a Digital Content Volunteer.
Hi! I’m Jess, originally from Essex but with a love for Yorkshire (and Yorkshire Tea) at heart! I’m currently studying for a Masters in Museum Studies, and I have previously worked and volunteered in Museums across London and my native Essex during my history undergrad in London and since finishing university – largely in Front of House and Learning roles – so I am very much looking forward to beginning this new role at the Folly, exploring and bringing digital content and sharing this with you! The thing that most excites me is exploring the collections here, and the heritage of the Folly building itself and of the town – a rich, interesting and intriguing history!
We are really looking forward to getting to know and share the people, collections and history that shape the Folly today. We are (hoping!) in the coming blogs to delve into, chat and explore the different collections and collection objects on display at the Folly, as well as highlighting a range of stories that weave and thread around the local and wider history of Settle – we really want to explore the lives of the people who have lived, breathed and worked in such an incredible place, to really understand and get to the heart of some amazing stories! We’ll both be meeting and getting to know other members of staff and volunteers, and in the same way that we want to highlight the stories of the past, we would love to paint a (digital!) picture of the Folly and Museum today!
We are looking forward to beginning this journey – and we hope that we can share this with you, too!