Memories of Otley Courthouse
Memories of Otley Courthouse Project
Are you interested in local history?
Do you like talking to people and finding out about what Otley and the surrounding area were like in the past?
If so, the Otley Courthouse Volunteer Heritage group would like to invite you to help with an exciting new project.
The Volunteer Heritage Research group at Otley Courthouse are delighted to announce that they have received a ‘Your Heritage’ award of £9,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The ‘Your Heritage’ awards are for local and grassroots heritage activities, of which the recording of oral history is an important part.
The Memories of Otley Courthouse project will interview and record the memories of people who have had anything to do with the Courthouse and Police Station until the courts closed in 1997, and to help edit the recordings for inclusion in a book and on new display boards in the Courthouse.
The Courthouse Heritage Group would like to invite anyone interested to join the project. No special skills are needed and full training will be given to all wishing to take part. The interviews will be recorded on the new recording equipment, which will be purchased with money from the award. The Courthouse is a fully accessible building.
Although the Heritage Group has already collected some memories of people who either worked at the Courthouse or attended court for any reason, there are many more people in the community who had connections with the Police Station and courts, before the building closed in 1997. Otley Courthouse had a really important role in the town, especially before 1974, as up to that time the jurisdiction of the local area covered from Ilkley to Arthington, and from Baildon to Blubberhouses. If you or a friend or relative of yours have a story to tell, then the Heritage Group looks forward to hearing from you!
Fiona Spiers, Head of HLF Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “Heritage is not all about castles, museums and old buildings. Memories, stories and reminiscences are a very popular way of learning about our past and sharing this with future generations. Otley Courthouse played a central role in the life of Otley and it is important to take the opportunity to preserve its heritage by bringing its stories to life, letting everyone get involved and share their past.”
Please contact the Courthouse on 01943 467466 or call in at the Courthouse to leave your details. If you know that you have already left your details and we have not got back to you, many apologies, we will be in touch again in the next few months!
