Monday 14 January 2013

Otley from the Chevin


It seemed like a wild guess as to what language the caption was in- originally, "Olley" was in the running, and might have been plausible as it was in France, where a number of other cards are from.
However, the deciphering of "the Chevin" was the key. The Chevin is the name given to the ridge on the south side of Wharfedale in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, overlooking the market town of Otley.
According to the wiki:
"Otley's name is derived from Othe, Otho or Otta, a Saxon personal name and leah, a woodland clearing in Old English. It was recorded as Ottanlege in 972 and Otelai or Othelia in the Domesday Book of 1086.[2][3] The name Chevin has close parallels to the Welsh term Cefn meaning ridge and may be a survival of the ancient Cumbric language."


At the time of this postcard, Otley would have been mostly mills: wool and paper, with printing being one of the main industries.


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