SAVE OUR SUMMERCROSS
www.sosotley.org.uk
Homepage - The Pub - The Community - The Campaign - Photographs - Links
The Geography of the Community - The Social Community
The Geography of the Community
The
east side of Otley
The Summercross lies just south of the Pool Road, about 500m east of Otley Civic Centre. The pub is the only public facility that serves the substantial and relatively isolated community that lies in a ribbon along the line of the Pool Road. The bulk of the housing is to the south of the Pool Road, stretching as far as Moor Drive, some 1000m east of the Summercross.
On the north side of the Pool Road, obscured by housing, lies the of nationally important Otley RUFC ground together with the popular Otley Cricket Club ground and Otley Squash Club. Further playing fields and clubs including Otley AFC lie to the south of Pool Road between Steven Smith's garden centre and Moor Drive.
The main Otley Cemetery is opposite the Summercross screened by mature trees.
The Summercross in context
The Summercross, with its large beer garden containing several large trees, together with the adjacent public park containing a number of mature trees and the magnificent row of Chestnut trees to the front of Grosvenor Terrace collectively form a significant and visually important break in the ribbon of housing along the Pool Road.
An open
focus to the local community
The Summercross site of 0.23hectres lies within the Otley Conservation Area.
The Otley Conservation Area
This page is still under construction, further material and photographs welcomed.
The Summercross has been a focus for the community for 140 years, it predates most of the housing and is key to maintaining a vibrant and sustainable local community.
Whafedale
Rural District Official Guide 1973
Advert from the
Otley Folk Festival programme
Publicity
for the popular quiz night
On Sunday 12 August 2007 the Yorkshire branch of the Allotments Regeneration Initiative started their allotment walk at the Summercross and returned for a BBQ.
Allotment Walk Barbeque
Publicity
for the own mike night
Sample live music gigs in 2007 at the Summercross:
5 May: Northern Lights (Country/folk trio Otley playing a mix of instruments including dulcimer, guitars and double bass)
12 May: Trio (Traditional English folk songs via guitars, banjo, mandolin and harmonica)
19 May: Angelo Palladino (Local singer/guitarist – and music teacher – brings his unique take on the Blues)
26 May: Chris Smithies
1 June: Shoot the Breeze
9 June: Aiken’s Drum (Traditional folk music is alive and well in the hands of this trio who have been together for 30 years)
16 June: Cushla (York-based duo Rich Lower and Lou Cooke offer something for everyone)
23 June: Waterland (Folk, roots and rock ‘n’ roll duo promote their new album, “Butterfly in Reverse”)
30 June: Blimey O’Riley (Irish music trio based around Nigel Rae, singer and multi-instrumentalist; Chris O'Blarney, rhythm guitar and Tom Poland, accordion)
7 July: Angelo Paladino (Legendary gravel-voiced blues singer who has played with such luminaries as Paul Brady and Jon Gomm)
14 July: Northern Lights (Country/folk trio Otley playing a mix of instruments including dulcimer, guitars and double bass)
21 July: Jim Anderson (Solo folk and acoustic blues, from Dewsbury stalwart)
28 July: Scouse Andy (Shoot the Breeze)
4 Aug: Shoot the Breeze (Country and western)
11 Aug: John Christopher (Something for everyone from the 60s and 70s)
18 Aug: Kwame D (Soul, world music, blues and reggae)
25 Aug: John Christopher (Something for everyone from the 60s and 70s)
1 Sept: Rae Bailey (Soul duo with classic songs from Aretha Franklin to Lily Allen)
8 Sept: Gerry Cooper – Fine acoustic folk and country blues from Ilkley singer-songwriter.
15 Sept: Tree Creepers (Rock, blues and funk from Halifax five-piece)
21-22 Sept: Otley Folk Festival (late licence until 3am Friday and Saturday)
29 Sept: Cushla (York-based duo offering something for everyone).
Publicity
for a social outing
The Summercross was an integral part of the local community ....
Birthdays, anniversaries and receptions
Funerals/wakes (the cemetery is opposite)
Wednesday night Scout leaders met there
Thursday night quiz
Friday night open mike session
Saturday night live music
Otley Folk Festival sponsor and venue
Otley Walking Festival hosted a walk
BBQs in the summer for private parties etc.
Social gatherings associated with the sports clubs, particularly pre and post rugby match drinks
Post fishing match refreshments and presentations (river Wharfe and local fishing ponds)
Base for the annual allotment walk, and there was a market there after this year's walk
Ilkley Motor Club went there after rallies etc.
The Blues Brothers society used it as their meeting point for their annual pub tour of Otley
Otley Cricket Club met there last winter while their club house was being renovated
The biggest event of the year used to be the annual bonfire (sadly the insurance became too much)
Click here for the next page.