BACK TO BLUE

After yesterdays detour I've got back to my tour of the towns Blue Plaques.

Situated within the beautiful surroundings of the Wharfe Valley, one of Ilkley's oldest buildings, the Manor House, has been converted into an attractive museum and art gallery. On the ground floor visitors are given a glimpse into Ilkley's past while the first floor galleries provide the venue for a regularly changing programme of temporary exhibitions.

While being a major exhibit in itself, the Manor House also stands on the remains of the Roman fort of Olicana. Only a short section of defensive wall remains exposed at the back of the building, but Roman artefacts from the fort and surrounding area are on permanent display inside the Manor House, together with prehistoric artefacts and information about the development of Ilkley as a Victorian spa town.