OTLEY, a parish, in the West riding of the county of YORK, comprising
the market-town of Otley, the chapelries of Baildon, Bramhope,
Burley, and Pook, and the townships of Esholt, Hawksworth, and
Menstone, in the upper division of the wapentake of
SKYRACK, and the chapelry of Denton in the lower,
and the townships of Farnley, Lindley, Niwhall with
Clifton, and Little Timble in the upper, division of the
wapentake of CLARO, West riding of the county of
YORK, and containing 9358 inhabitants, of which number,
3065 are in the market-town of Otley, 28 miles
(W. by S.) from York, and 206 (N.N.W.) from London.
The name has been considered a contraction of Oat-lea,
from the quantity of oats formerly cultivated in the
neighbourhood; but, with more probability, and on
better evidence, it is believed to be a corruption of
Othelai, as spelt in Domesday-book, meaning the field of
Othe, or Otlw. The town, which is pleasantly situated on
the banks of the river Wharf, is small, and neatly built.
A few persons are employed in the worsted manufacture.
Considerable quantities of smelts, eels, and trout, are
taken in the river, near Otley, and occasionally salmon.
The market, which is amply supplied with corn, cattle/
sheep, and calves, is on Friday; and fairs are held, on
the first Monday after August 2nd, for horses and cattle;
on the Friday between New and Old Martinmas day,
for hiring servants; and on every second Monday, for
cattle and sheep.
The living is a discharged vicarage, in the archdeaconry
and diocese of York, rated in the king's books
at £13. 1. 8., and in the patronage of the Crown. The
church, which is dedicated to All Saints, was originally
of Norman architecture, but of the ancient building
the north door alone remains: it is a spacious edifice,
and contains several monuments of the families of Fairfax,
Fawkes, Vavasour, &c. There are places of worship,
for the Society of Friends, Independents, and Wesleyan
Methodists. The free grammar school, founded by
means of a bequest of £250 from Thomas Cave, in the
year 1602, was established by letters patent of James I-.,.,
and named, in honour of the then Prince of Wales, "The
Free Grammar School of Prince Henry;" the above bequest
having been augmented by subscription, a schoolroom,
and other apartments, were erected about 1611,
under the direction of the governors; the master receives
£20 per annum: the school is open for gratuitous
classical instruction to the sons of parishioners, but three
boys only are taught on the foundation, and about forty
are instructed by the usher, in English grammar, writing,
and arithmetic, on paying quarterage. Here was anciently
an hospital for lepers. Sir Thomas,- afterwards
Lord Fairfax, the celebrated parliamentary general, was
born at Denton Park, in this parish, in the year 1611, and
died in the same house, on the 12th of November, 1C? 1.