A NEW exhibition has opened at The Folly, Settle, focusing on the town's Zion Chapel.

Called The End of an Era: 200 Years of Zion Chapel, the exhibition has been curated by Folly volunteer Heather Maufe and will run until October 30.

Zion Chapel was built in 1816 into the steep hillside of Upper Settle and was at the heart of community life for the best part of 200 years.

Many of Settle residents will have connections with Zion, not only through services, weddings and funerals but also through the astonishing range of all-age activities that flourished over the years.

Plays and shows were written and put on, an orchestra and several choirs were formed and concerts given, as well as a young people's fellowship, two Sunday schools, a Guild, a mid-week fellowship and various rambles, dances, socials and fundraising efforts.

Anne Read, curator of The Folly, said: "Sadly, Zion had to close its doors for the last time in 2015, but there is every reason for us still to celebrate its 200th anniversary.

"The Chapel Trustees have kindly donated their entire archive to The Folly and this gives us a wealth of material of all kinds to draw on for our exhibition: objects, photographs, notebooks, beautiful hand-illustrated magazines, posters and much more besides.

"We want people to come in and enjoy spotting their ancestors, families and friends and then dig around in their own albums and add more. That would continue Zion's great spirit of sharing for the next generation!"

The exhibition will run alongside 1916: Chronicles of Courage, part of the Heritage Lottery-funded Craven and the First World War project. It tells the stories of local men and women who served their country in many different ways during the First World War.