Otley Museum & Archive Trust

15/06/2026

Cricket trophy.
Engraved DP&E CC LGE. CHAMPIONS 1963.

Presented to winners of the Airedale & Wharfedale cricket league, this was the final year that the Dawson, Payne & Elliott cricket club competed in that league.

Trophy is silver plated, 13cm tall.

Other photo shows a view of the DP&E sports fields (cricket and football) in 1971 before this area was redeveloped to become the Whiteley Croft Estate. Parish Church, Scout hut etc. visible to rear.

Museum Refs: O/BL/to/1, BL/ph/140.

otleymuseum.org

15/06/2026

Following last weeks picture of the model printing press, here's a photo of an original one, as manufactured at the DP&E factory in 1970.

Museum Ref: O/BL/ph/138c

08/06/2026

Scale model, 1/8 size of Crabtree Vickers Falcon U4/26HP four colour offset litho printing press.

Made by Apprentices at the former Atlas Works in Burras Lane c.1975 and rescued from the Works August 1983.

Dimensions 37 inches long, 9 high & 7.5 wide on wooden base.

Museum Ref: O/BL/md/1

otleymuseum.org

08/06/2026

Calm and Chaos of the River Wharfe - new display at Otley Library
Visit Otley

01/06/2026

Copy of the very first edition of the Wharfedale & Airedale Observer dated 4th June 1880.
146 years old and still going!

Note that at that time Menstone and Fewstone were still spelled thus.

Does anyone happen to know when the last WAO was printed in Otley?

Better still, anyone got a copy of that edition that they may feel able to donate to the Museum?
Or even a photo would be helpful.

Museum Ref: O/K/np/16

otleymuseum.org

25/05/2026

Cast iron "Spittoon".

From the Manor public house, 7 Cross Green.

Fluted design, 18.5cm diameter, donated by the Landlord in 1975.

Would once have been a regular piece of pub furniture.
An old inventory dated 1852 shows the Manor containing 6 such items, total value 1 shilling, or 2d each.

Museum Ref: O/CG/pf/1

otleymuseum.org

18/05/2026

OUDC road menders oil lamp.

Used by Otley Urban District Council & rescued from North Parade Yard in 1979. Lamp undated.

Tin lamp with wire carry handle & hinged top to reveal filler for oil reservoir & wick attachment (now missing).

10.5 inches high, 6 wide. 3 panels have diagonal X, other has frosted glass.

Museum Ref: O/UC/la/1

otleymuseum.org

11/05/2026

Model made by engineers at Dawson, Payne & Elliott Ltd, Burras Lane.

Plaque reads: "Elevation, driving & transmitter differential units 8018 + 8011 Predictor AA No.3 mk 1 1942-3"

This is an example of precision engineering carried out for the Ministry of Supply.

The epicyclic gear train was incorporated into the Predictor mechanism used by anti-aircraft batteries in WW2.
Height 10 inches.

Museum Ref O/BL/md/19

Otley museum.org

04/05/2026

Collection of over 60 flag day memorabilia from WW1, dated 1915-1918.

Paper flags, most with lapel pins, sold to raise funds for the Organisations mentioned.

Some with handwritten explanations of where and when bought.

Collected by Eleanor Duncan of Askwith.

Museum Ref: O/N/sv/2

otleymuseum.org

30/04/2026

Ever wondered about the striking blue houses on Guycroft in Otley? 🏠

Dating back to 1882, these unique homes were built using glazed bricks stamped from the Farnley Iron Company near Leeds. While some have speculated the unusual bricks came from old toilets or even swimming pools, a more likely explanation is that they were part of a “job lot” — possibly leftover samples showcasing the full colour range available at the time.

Take a closer look at the end of the terrace and you’ll spot an incredible mix of colours, from blues and greys to yellows and greens — almost like a permanent advert for the brickmaker’s catalogue!

A small but fascinating piece of local history hiding in plain sight.

To read more, see our website

The glazed bricks of 1-5 Guycroft have produced theories of toilets and swimming pools, when the more likely story is that they are probably from a job lot from the Leeds kiln sample books.