The Cross Pipes

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The Cross Pipes History

The Cross Pipes was built circa 1762 as two cottages and an Inn. The whole of the Cross Pipes property, which is really of 2 blocks, was built about 1762 as two cottages and an Inn, the centre cottage being later added to the hostelry and the other cottage on the east side being demolished. At the side of the Cross Pipes was an archway and brewhouse, with a malt house and stables for two horses at the rear. It was the last Otley Inn to brew its own beer.

Noted publicans include George Cheadle (1822 & 1829 census) and then Mary Cheadle (1834 & 1837 census). Also noted during World War I was that licensees George Arthur Robinson and his wife, Muriel Robinson, as well as running the pub, were also employed by Payne & Sons Atlas Works (which had changed from printing manufacturing to munitions during the war years) on Burras Lane. George as a munitions worker and Muriel as a Forewoman.

Has the CROSS PIPES got a ghost?

Over many years the Inn has had some strange goings-on of which the following are a few:-

Stuart and Sue Rothera, landlord and landlady, began experiencing strange happenings after they took over the tenancy in October 1985.  In January 1986 a pile of boxes fell over in the kitchen which had been there all day and no-one had touched them.  Also, one afternoon, their daughter Haley and her fiancé Phil, decided to have a game of darts when the Pub was closed.  Phil threw three darts into the board and then went on to play pool.  Whilst playing pool, first one dart jumped out, followed by a second and a third.  Phil threw the darts back in again and they jumped out again later.

However, previous landlords have also experienced strange happenings, which include the bathroom door being locked from the inside when there was no-one in it, and the hand-piece of the telephone jumping off its cradle.

One Landlord parked his car on the steep east side of the car park adjacent to the Inn and the next thing he knew it had run into the middle of the road on its own.  Luckily it didn’t cause an accident, and when the brakes were tested they were still on and in  good working order!

In June 2022, landlord Ian Wellington, bought the freehold of the pub from owners Admiral Taverns to create another independently owned Free House in Otley.

However, as of May 2023 the pub remains closed and the future is uncertain.