Otley Town Council is delighted to announce that it has been successful in securing an award of £185,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund in support of the landmark Otley 800 celebrations scheduled for 2027 and 2028. 

The Heritage Fund award will be matched by a similar investment from the council, providing significant funding for the ambitious programme that celebrates two significant anniversaries in the West Yorkshire market town’s history: the granting of a Royal Market Charter in 1227 and the construction of a bridge over the River Wharfe a year later. These two events helped establish Otley as a major centre for medieval trade, in turn shaping the town we know today. 

Led by Otley Town Council and with input from the wider community, Otley 800 aims to bring together thousands of residents and visitors of all ages and backgrounds to celebrate and take pride in the town’s heritage, while also providing a legacy for future generations.  
 
The Otley 800 programme consists of five major threads:  

• A four-day Charter Weekend focussing on Otley’s historic market will launch the celebrations in May 2027 

• A People’s Tapestry — created by a team of volunteers and involving as many residents as possible — will tell the story of 800 years of Otley history, while also providing a legacy of the celebrations 

• A pop-up Otley Museum will be professionally curated to reunite visitors with a collection that has not been publicly displayed for some 16 years 

• A community grants programme will allow local organisations to develop their own events and projects exploring different aspects of Otley’s heritage. 

• The programme will culminate in June 2028 with a Bridge Weekend, including a riverside pageant. 

Leader of Otley Town Council, Councillor Penny Robinson, said: 

“We are absolutely delighted that our application to The National Lottery Heritage Fund has been successful. The £185,000 award markedly changes the tone and scope of the celebrations. Alongside the significant investment already committed by Otley Town Council, it gives us the opportunity to create a very special celebration that honours the past while looking to the future. 

“It’s important that Otley 800 belongs to the whole community, giving people the chance to celebrate their hometown and its wider importance to Yorkshire and, indeed, the world. During the development of the bid, a significant number of local groups submitted some fantastic ideas for their own celebrations, and we now look forward to seeing how these can be developed further, as well as welcoming further ideas for events and projects. 

“On behalf of Otley Town Council, I would like to thank the Heritage Fund for their positive response to our application. I would also like to thank my predecessor as leader of the council, Councillor Richard Hughes, and Councillor Paul Carter, who has chaired the Otley 800 steering committee on behalf of the council for two years, giving us the platform for the funding application and the programme itself. They have worked tirelessly in shaping the Otley 800 celebrations and should be applauded for their efforts.” 

Helen Featherstone, Director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “800 years of heritage means that Otley has a lot of history to celebrate! We’re delighted that thanks to money raised by National Lottery players we can support this programme of events that will delve into the varied heritage of Otley and allow its communities to explore and uncover the fascinating stories that have shaped the town.” 

With the granting of the Heritage Fund award, Otley Town Council will now move forward with the community grants process through which local groups will be able to apply for funding for projects celebrating Otley’s cultural and commercial heritage.  

Following an initial expression of interest process in early 2026, it is anticipated that the first round of community grant applications will open in October 2026. Further information about the application process and available funding will be announced in the coming weeks. 

Residents or groups who would like to get involved can visit the Otley 800 website or email [email protected]