Sic Transit Gloria Mundi

I inspected what remains of the Otley Civic Centre this morning. It is a Grade II-listed building, built in 1870 as the Mechanics' Institute and opened the following year. It remained in use until 2009, when it closed and fell into disrepair.

This is what remains of the Main Hall. Dances were held here (the sprung floor is lovely) and it doubled as a theatre: the backdrop was left in place after the last play was performed.

It is so sad that the building is in such a state. It served the town for over a century and was very much its cultural heart. Also, the Town Council had its offices there, something I should dearly love to see happen again.