Now a Community Arts and Resource Centre, Otley Courthouse played an important role in the West Riding area of Yorkshire between the 1870s and 1997. By interviewing a wide range of people who had past links with the Courthouse either personally or via family connections, the group is preserving reminiscences and knowledge through the website, display boards and guided tours of the building. 

The Heritage Group, who are all volunteers, are collecting local memories for this project supported by Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The grant means that new equipment has been purchased, training in interviewing has been given, and wider publicity has attracted both new volunteers and potential interviewees. Extracts of the material collected will be published in a book, which is to be launched in December 2012.

Oral history is an important method of learning about and preserving our local heritage. The accreditation process enabled the memories group to achieve best practice through community participation, accessing specialist training and benefit from networking opportunities with other heritage groups.

In recognition of the excellent quality of research undertaken by the Otley Courthouse Heritage Group, the WYAS logo can be included on the website and all publicity material.

Fiona Spiers, Head of HLF Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “It is fantastic news that the Otley Courthouse Heritage Group has gained accreditation for the Memories of Otley Courthouse project. It is positive recognition of all the hard work and hours dedicated by the volunteers involved in the project – well done!”

Notes to editors

Heritage Open Day at Otley Courthouse
Saturday 8 September
Otley Courthouse welcomes visitors for the Heritage Open Day from 10am to 4pm. The Courthouse was used for filming the police station, courtroom and cell scenes in the television series Heartbeat.

There will be guided tours of the former Victorian police station, cells and magistrates’ courts throughout the day.  The building dates from the mid 1850s and fascinating details about life at the police station and cases from the Petty Sessions are revealed!

Further information

Please call 01943 467 466 or visit the Courthouse website.