A SITE that has been at the heart of Otley's employment sector since the 1800s will celebrate its 200th anniversary this weekend.
Now an office complex named Wharfebank Business Centre, Otley Mills was bought as a worsted mill by William Ackroyd in 1815 and went on to employ many generations of local families.
By the 1830s Mr Ackroyd had acquired a partner, Thomas Duncan, and the Duncan family took over the business following Mr Ackroyd's death in 1865.
The site closed as a mill in 1983 and was transformed into Wharfebank Business Centre, owned by William Ackroyd (Holdings) Ltd.
The Duncan family, in the form of chairman of directors Ronnie Duncan, are still involved in the business.
Mr Duncan will be at the heart of the anniversary celebrations on Saturday, when a party will be held at the onsite Italian restaurant, Buon Apps.
A specially-commissioned commemorative book, entitled Otley Mills: A History, is also being printed and bound this week to mark the occasion.
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