COLLECTIONS

Currently our artefacts are in store but our documentary and photographic archive on the collections is open for research.

The unique character of this Museum is represented by several significant collections accumulated over a period of fifty years:

The Eric Cowling Collection

Hundreds of prehistoric stone tools and artefacts mainly from the Middle Wharfe Valley collected by Eric over many years.   He was a founder of the Museum in 1961, and was awarded an Honorary Citizenship of Otley for this work.

The Archbishop's Manor House Collection

An archaeological collection from the 1970s' excavations of the medieval Palace of the Archbishop of York at Otley.

The Otley Printers' Engineers Collection

Industrial artefacts and archives recording the history and development of the town's Victorian machine makers and centred on the invention of the Wharfedale Printing Machine.

The Urban Development Archive

Building Records, plans and maps showing the development and planning of the town during the 19th and 20th centuries.

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The Otley Story

Objects, documents, photographs, locally printed material and personal records give a detailed social history of the town from the 18th century onwards.

SEE OTHER PAGES OF THE WEBSITE FOR FURTHER  INFORMATION

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Two of our volunteers specialise in family history and are available for personal advice.

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