Otley Museum & Archive Trust

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

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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.

27/04/2026

Monday is washing day! No spin or tumble dryers though, just manual labour.

Here we have two cast iron mangles. Green & red one supplied by CR Tempest of 24 Market Place (marked on cast plate to top) c.1900.

Has elaborate side castings with central lion and kangaroo & elephant facing.

Red one supplied by WE Turner of 7 Kirkgate (again marked on top plate) c.1880.

No decoration to frame.

Both have wooden rollers with adjustable springs for roller pressure.

Dimensions almost the same at approx. 51 inches high, 42 wide & 20 deep.

Both originally owned by Israel Jewitt of Askwith.

Museum Refs: O/MP/da/1, O/K/da/1

otleymuseum.org

20/04/2026

Enamel advertising sign for Halls Distemper.

Formerly displayed in the premises of H. Howard & Sons, Decorators of Boroughgate. Also used on the Business's letterhead as shown.

This oil bound water paint was made by Sissons Bros & Co. Ltd. of Hull, Glasgow & Liverpool.

Sign made by the Patent Enamel Co. of Birmingham is 169 x 66 cms.

Museum Ref: O/BG/sn/1 & dc/75

otleymuseum.org

13/04/2026

Sterling silver desk set.

Inscribed "Presented to William Vernon Dawson on the occasion of the attainment of his majority by the employees of William Dawson & Sons (Otley) August 3rd 1911"

Inkstand plus two glass inkwells with hinged silver lids and hexagonal pen/ holder. A blotter and letter rack completed the set.

William (1890-1940) was the Great Grandson of William Dawson, founder of Ashfield Foundry (later DP&E) and a key person in the development of the printing machine industry in the Town.

Museum Ref: O/WE/fu/1

otleymuseum.org

12/04/2026

Following from last weeks post, here's some additional info on the candle factory fire of 1954.
From a witness statement of the incident, it was reported at 7:30am on 26 November and appears to have started in the cellar where wick material was stored. Despite the efforts of staff, it quickly became out of control.

Molten wax flowed out of the yard and into the sewer system in Station Road. Of course this then solidified and reportedly blocked the sewer for approx. 160 yards as far as the Red Lion pub on Kirkgate.
It took Council staff 20 days to clear the wax, resulting in a large bill for the Owners.

The candle factory finally closed in 1977.

10/04/2026

New display in Otley Library - Lost Pubs of Otley
Visit Otley
otleymuseum.org