The Shambles in Settle Marketplace, its Date and Builder

The Shambles in Settle marketplace is a familiar, perhaps even iconic building, but long familiarity does not diminish its oddness. It takes the form of a row of six shops with cottages above and basements underneath, fronted by a dual row of six arches which support galleried access to the cottages. An upper floor was added to the building in 1888–9; illustrations of the building in its earlier form are provided. Various suggestions have circulated about the age of the building. This article shows that it was built within a few years of 1780 and that its builder was a mason and bridge builder, Robert Charnley (d. 1789), whose later work was in Lancashire. It suggests that the Shambles should be seen as a demonstration of the bridge builder’s skill with arches.