LAST week’s mystery building was the grade two listed The Folly at Settle, and was correctly identified by Michael Richard, former Settle resident, who now lives in County Down, Northern Ireland.

The Folly was built in 1679 as a home and offices for lawyer Richard Preston, who also farmed the surrounding land.

He and his wife Lettice could afford to build what was by far the largest house in Settle, facing the original main road into the town. With its prospect tower and extensive glazing, it was designed to show off their wealth and taste.

Richard Preston died suddenly in February 1696. He was not yet 60 and left no will. His widow and three daughters lived here until 1703, when they sold the house to Margaret Dawson, in whose family it remained until 1980.

The Folly was known as Newhouse, Settle Hall Farm and Tanner Hall, after a now-vanished Tanner Lane. A 1760s map of Settle names it as ‘Preston’s Folly’. Legend has it that Preston bankrupted himself building the house.

The Folly was divided up and, over the years, was used as a bakery, warehouse, lodging house, refreshment rooms, fish and chip shop, bank, Sunday school, furniture shop, doctor’s surgery and salvage business. 19th-century census records show that it was usually occupied by two or three families.

The Folly now houses the Museum of North Craven Life and the popular Folly Coffee House, both owned and managed the North Craven Building Preservation Trust, which continues to raise funds for its ongoing repair and conservation.

A free exhibition about the history of The Folly runs until the end of September.

What about this week’s building, a memorial hall? Suggestions by 8am on Monday to news@cravenherald.co.uk