SETTLE’S Marshfield Cricket Ground has a superb view of the shapely crags and hills that shelter the town.

In the foreground is the prominent embankment that carries the Settle-Carlisle railway up the dale to Blea Moor.

Marshfield has hosted some legendary players such as Freddie Truman, who famously hit a ball that cleared a nearby housing estate to land in the road beyond.

Truman beat the previous best of Colne batsman Amar Singh, who might have equalled Truman if his ball had not hit a roof and cracked a slate.

The real prize must go to C. A. L. Swales, Captain of the 1905 team. Swales scored his six by hitting a ball that sped 74 miles before it came to rest in Carlisle!

Fortunately no one seems to have been injured when the ball flew through an open carriage window on a non-stop northbound express.

In those days when shops and businesses closed for a half day, local tradesmen formed teams for regular Wednesday afternoon matches.

They also played fundraising games against the Ladies team. Both teams sported fancy dress for these matches. Their costumes may not mean much today as many were linked to popular products of the time.

Miss Haygarth dressed as Ross Ginger Ale while Miss Graham appeared as Bottomley’s Toffee and Miss Proctor portrayed Mother Shipton’s Soap.

On another occasion the ladies side included a Swiss girl, a Dutch girl, a Tambourine girl, and a Forest girl although humble Mrs Holmes was simply “A Drudge”.

The men were less imaginative with several farmers, clowns and chefs, though one team featured both Sunny Jim and Weary Willie.

The men traditionally gave the heavier dressed ladies an advantage by forsaking their trusty bats for brooms.

You can enjoy several photographs of the teams in an exhibition called Pastimes in Pastimes put together by the Back in Settle history group. The exhibition is on view at the Museum of North Craven Life in Settle’s 17th century Folly until September 25.

It is revealing to see how many ways people found to enjoy themselves in all weathers. Read the story of “Clogger” Henry Walker. A legendary cricketer of the early days at Marshfield, he became a public librarian in Stamford, telling the Peterborough Bankruptcy Court in 1913 that the poor salary had brought about his downfall.

The Folly in Settle opens Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 1.30 pm to 4.30pm. On Tuesdays (Market Day) we open from 10.30am to 4.30pm. We also open every Bank Holiday Monday. There is a small admission charge for the museum and exhibition areas.

Tel. (015242) 51388 or (01729) 822 361. http://www.ncbpt.org.uk/folly/