Otley Museum & Archive Trust

02/11/2026

Two stoneware bottles marked "Holt Bros Botanical Brewers" of Mercury Row, Otley. Dating from early 20th Century.
1st is a one gallon bottle, with fawn glazed base and light brown glazed from shoulder. Stamped Pearson & Co Whettington Moor Potteries, Chesterfield.
2nd is a half gallon bottle, similarly coloured and reconstructed from pieces recovered from the domestic waste tip behind Brick House Farm 1976. Stamped Wlm. Robinson & Sons, Jack Lane Pottery, Leeds.

Picture is of John Holt c.1900 who ran the Brewery with his Son, Harry. Popular drinks were Ginger B**r, Sarsparilla, Hop Ale and Dandelion & Burdock.
Ingredients were obtained from a wholesale chemist opposite Leeds Town Hall, collected by John by train.
Yeast was collected by bucket from the Tetley's dray which delivered to Mawson's Yard behind the Three Horse Shoes on Bridge Street.

Museum Refs: )/MR/bo/3&4, MR/ph/2

otleymuseum.org

26/10/2026

Cast makers plate from a printing press manufactured by Fieldhouse, Crossfield & Co, Ltd of Wharfedale Foundry. Otley.
Dating from early 20th Century, the press was used at Whiteley's paper mill in Pool. Business run by John Fieldhouse (1834-1903) and John Crossfield (1935-1901).
Dimensions 5.75 x 2.25 inches.

The foundry was located between Boroughgate and Bondgate from 1865 to closure in 1932, originally being Fieldhouse, Kelley & Elliott until 1888.

The site was cleared in the 1930's, together with several houses and "The Wharfedale" pub on Boroughgate in order to create the Bus Station which opened in 1939 - see photo.
Until this time, there was no "Crossgate", with the road from Bondgate continuing on to Nelson Street towards the Maypole.

Museum Ref: O/NS/nm/1

otleymuseum.org

23/10/2026

Not long to go to the Otley B**r Festival Friday 20th and Saturday 21st November Otley Common. Otley B**r Festival 2026 are sponsoring Otley Museum this year so come along, enjoy the entertainment and support your local museum at the same time!

20/10/2026

Come along on Wednesday 4 November between 5.30 pm and 7.00pm to share your ideas. Otley Parish Church

Your chance to have your say

19/10/2026

View looking down Beech Hill before the demolition of Brown's Court in 1967.
This was where the current car park is now sited, as can be seen on the current photo.
Note the distinctive building which was the Leeds Industrial Co-operative Society which still stands, but no longer the Co-op.

Museum Ref: O/BH/ph/18d

otleymuseum.org

12/10/2026

Railway timetable from 1865.

Travel to London Kings Cross.
Depart Otley 8:15am, 55 minutes to Leeds and arrive London 3:50pm, for the price of 54 Shillings (£2.70) First Class.

The line had opened on 1st February 1865 and the last timetabled passenger train left 100 years later on 20th March 1965.

Otley by-pass now occupies the old railway route.

Museum Ref: O/R/hb/3

otleymuseum.org

05/10/2026

Brass memorial plaque, removed from the wall of the old Sunday School in Wharfe Street after closure of Further Education classes in 1996.

"TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF ALFRED EDWARD PULLAN A TEACHER IN THIS SUNDAY SCHOOL, WHO DIED DECEMBER 7TH 1895 IN HIS 17TH YEAR. THESE PICTURES ARE DEDICATED".

Very young to be a Teacher!

Dimensions 12x9 ins.

Museum Ref: O/CG/ml/1

otleymuseum.org

03/10/2026

Here's the missing photo

03/10/2026

In a previous post on 1st June we showed a copy of the first Wharfedale Observer printed in Otley and asked if anyone knew when the last edition was printed in the Town.

It appears that the last one was dated 29 April 1988.
After that edition, papers stated that they were printed by John H Hurst & Co. in Cleckheaton.

Here's a photo, courtesy of Rawdon Library, where there are a large number of back issues of the paper available to view.

otleymuseum.org

28/09/2026

Biscuit tins (2), with printed wrappers for "Robinson's Ginger Wafers, The Different Biscuit" from c.1960.

Biscuits made by William Robinson (Otley) Ltd at his factory on the back of Station Road, east side.

Sold at his shop at 3 Kirkgate, which is pictured on the right of the photo.

Dimensions 4.75 x 3.75 x 3.5 inches.

Museum Refs: O/K/pk/3 & 10 and ph/113.

otleymuseum.org