Historic Otley
is an historic market town located in West Yorkshire on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales.
You won't find Otley in many tourist brochures. That's because its a real living village in the heart of Yorkshire. If you want to experience the real England, instead of sitting on a bus looking at old piles of stones with a slight whiff of urine coming from the granny behind you.. then hire a car and get your sat-nav pointing to Otley.
In Otley you get history, old stuff the Romans left behind, but you get to see how real 21st century people live work and play. If you are partial to the whiff of stale granny there is plently of charity shops filled with pre-loved paraphernalia to take home.
Late Saxon and Medieval Otley emerged under the patronage of the Archbishops of York. Otley evolved to become an agricultural and market town and still holds a farmers market one Sunday every month. Otley has held a regular market for over a thousand years. Don't worry, the vegetable are fresh each week, only some of the people are ancient.
Otley was also the birthplace of the famous cabinet maker Thomas Chippendale (June 5 1718 - November 1779)
Much of the town centre is eighteenth or nineteenth century or earlier. Otley has been here from about the mid-Eighth century, when Otta made his Leah or clearing in the forest.
The Black Bull Pub pictured below once hosted Oliver Cromwell and his troops. Thomas Fairfax, Cromwell's general came from nearby Denton Hall. People have been getting plastered in Otley for centuries.
The Pubs
Otley once vied with a select handful of towns in England for the distinction of having the most pubs per head of population.The Black Horse Hotel situated in the centre of town is both the largest pub and largest hotel.
The Black Bull in the town's Market Place, was allegedly drunk dry by Cromwell's troops on the night before the battle of Marston Moor during the English civil war.
The Junction Inn, my personal favourite, just a minute walk from the bus station has won numerous awards for its beer. It has seven different real ales on at any one time and has live bands playing weekly. It is a popular pub for those travelling to the Otley Folk Festival.
Otley's Glory Days
In the olden days.. 1990 to 2005 ish, Otley enjoyed a great repuation for outstanding pubs and night-life. Or so the locals tell me. A good Friday night on the turps and you were guaranteed to be squished into your favourite pub like a student in a cram as many students into a smart car competition. You would likely be entertained by a bit of beer inspired abuse shouting and the occasional street brawl.These days things are bit quieter. You will still witness the odd drunken lad trying to convert a lesbien, or the token chucker of indian take-a-way, but for the most part it is a civilised affair. Take your cat to the local and you can swing it without knocking off any flat caps whatsoever!
With no McDonalds in town rubbish on the streets is limited to cigarette buts and dog poo. Plus the occasional potato chip wedged between the charming cobble stoned streets. There is nothing as lovely to the eye as an historic old english establishment that has been beautifully cared for by landlords for centuries, with a drunken slapper sucking on a cancer stick, while her mate throws up three pints of cider and half a chicken tika masala.
Nice!
Otley has a great atmoshphere for day time charity shopping (of which Otley has a heap), or for an interesting night on the town, without having to line up at the bar behind 10,000 stinky students from Leeds University.
The River Wharfe
The Wharfe runs through Otley and is the most volatile, fastest rising river in Europe.The river is approximately 97km long before it joins the River Ouse.You will find swans and ducks to feed, and if you venture east off the beaten track, frogs, toads, otters and the occasional Sainsburys shopping trolley. The park is a fantastic hangout if you are a teenager and can not get served at the local. After dark you will find many bored youths supporting the vodka and tobacco industries. If you are very lucky you may spot a lesser spotted condom lurking under a park bench. These are easily frightened and difficult to find, unlike the Black-sheep beer bottle which is usually found sunbathing partly broken on footpaths all over town. Be early for these they seem to be nocturnal and hide by mid-morning.
If you want to hire a canoe go to Knaresborough where the tourists are apparently smart enough not to drown themselves. In Otley the river is considered to dangerous for small boats.
Character Plus
Otley is a real working town. A visit to Otley will throw you into real Yorkshire life. Instead of packing yourself into a London bus and looking at the usual tourist beige and boring stuff. Why not come to Otley and experience the real England. Jubilee Clock
Otley is still inhabited by Wombals
The clock at the western end of Market Square was designed by architect Alfred Marshall and erected erected in 1888. Seen below in daylight. Otley's character shines best after dark as seen in the image of Market Square by night.A lesser knows fact is that Otley is still inhabited by Wombals. Proof can be found on the northern side of the Jubilee clock in the form of a very small door. This also explains the dissaperaing black-sheep bottles. Sorry Wibledon but we are keeping the wombals.
Painting of Otley Life by Me.
Otley in Summer
In Otley there are Sheep (but they are ugly)
Church
Haircut Shop
Otley Stuff on Amazon
You will need a map
England and Wales Road Map
Amazon Price: $6.60 (as of 12/06/2009) 
Otley
Amazon Price: (as of 12/06/2009)
UK, England - "OTLEY" Mug
Amazon Price: $10.99 (as of 12/06/2009)
OTLEY 'S Beer and Ale Cascading Pub Wall Clock
Amazon Price: (as of 12/06/2009)
New Guestbook
- Reply
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Reply
- MrSquiffy MrSquiffy Oct 1, 2009 @ 9:28 am
- Otley BLOBBY Rocks!
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Reply
- CherylK CherylK Sep 24, 2009 @ 7:49 am
- This was a blast to read! You have a wry wit and I love it. Reminds me of my family except we're from Ireland. Seriously, I didn't know Chippendale was born there and I didn't know about the wombals. I really like your painting and I do not think the sheep is ugly. If I ever get back to that part of the world I will definitely visit Otley.
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Reply
- Hervil Hervil Sep 10, 2009 @ 12:28 pm
- I was born in Otley. It does pong a bit.
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- WhiskeyLepig WhiskeyLepig Sep 8, 2009 @ 2:34 pm
- Otley Otley Otley Otley
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