Ilkley Historical Multi (East)
Note: the posted coordinates are for the starting point of the multi
This multi which should take around 20 minutes to do, takes you around some of the historic buildings on the east side of the town. It was hidden as a partial replacement for Santos L Helper's (aka fat bloke) epic 17-stage multi GC1Q5MR Historical Ilkley which was hidden on 17/4/09 and archived on 6/5/19 just over 10 years later after some 85 finds and being awarded 24 FPs.
The cache, a camo-taped flip-topped plastic pot, is hidden on the edge of beck-side gardens above the centre of Ilkley.
Step 1: after parking at the central Pay and Display car park @ N 53 55.511 W 1 49.471 or (if you can find space) roadside somewhere conveniently close to the starting point, make your way to N 53 55.466 W 1 49.361 on the corner of Wells Road and Station Road where if you look up you will see a decorative stone door arch alcove with the inscribed year 190A
Step 2: carefully cross over the road towards the station where @ N 53 55.474 W 1 49.321 you will find a blue Ilkley Civic Society (ICS) wall plaque from which you will learn that the line was first extended to Skipton in 188B
Step 3: cross back over the road to N 53 55.461 W 1 49.303 where you will be standing outside the Winter Garden, part of the King's Hall/Winter Garden building, the prime entertainment venue in Ilkley. Low down to your right you will see the foundation stone which was laid by FS Jackson JP on 1C December 1912
Step 4: move a few step east to N 53 55.460 W 1 49.283 outside the King's Hall. If you look up, above the wall light and inscription over the doorway there is a row of 1D decorative mini stone columns
Step 5: continue along the pavement to N 53 55.454 W 1 49.266 where you will see a blue plaque on the wall of the Town Hall - the next component of this fine block of buildings comprising a civic precinct. On this you will learn that the (winning - see below) designer of the Town Hall came from a city with E letters in its name
Step 6: move across a few metres to N 53 55.456 W 1 49.250 where you will see another plaque high up on the wall near the corner. This commemorates Ilkley being awarded a Prix d'Honneur in L'Entente Florale - an international horticultural competition - in 19F1
Step 7: onwards to N 53 55.454 W 1 49.234 where low down near the corner you will find yet another plaque - this somewhat discoloured one on the foundation stone of the Free Library which was laid by J W Dixon on G1 January 1906.
Step 8: finally moving away from these buildings . . . and towards GZ! . . . head for N 53 55.398 W 1 49.360 the location of the final plaque for today! This is another (the 9th) ICS blue plaque on the wall of Chapel House a Methodist Church which, after a long and active life, was converted to flats in 198H
The cache is hidden under 100m from here at:
N 53 55.GAF W 1 49.(B-E)C(H-D-1)
Short 'QI' notes on the step locations
Step 1 - Corner alcove: This also has the inscription CY & CB (or some other combination) - the meaning of which I have not been able to find online
Step 2 - Rail link: A 29/11/17 Yorkshire Post article reported that Transport Secretary Chris Grayling had announced that he wanted his department to identify disused railways which could be re-opened to passenger traffic. Amongst these are the Ilkley-Skipton line and the Ilkley-Otley line.
Step 3 - Winter Garden: This was built some years after the Library, Town Hall and King's Hall in a different style and opened on 22 June 1914. It replaced a terraced garden to the west of the King's Hall. It is a large and handsome rectangular reception area with a sweeping grand staircase leading to a curved iron balcony. It also has a fine spa lantern glass rooflight with ornamental aprons. See here for a history of this building and the adjoining King's Hall with some fascinating old photos
Step 4 - King's Hall: see here for more information on the history and fine features of this impressive 
auditorium which was originally called The Assembly Hall. The hall is a well-used entertainment venue, particularly popular with tribute bands and comedians.
Steps 5 & 6 - Town Hall: This and the adjoining King's Hall was built as the home for the Ilkley Urban District Council at a time when town halls were being built in many towns in West Yorkshire and Ilkley was transforming from a village to a town. It was built during an economic depression and clauses in the building contract stated that local workmen should be employed to provide work for them. The chosen design was the winning entry (of 60 submitted) in a competition. Several sites were considered during the late 1800s and early 1900s and there were doubts about using this Station Road plot then occupied by a private house as it overlooked railway yards.
Step 7 - Library:The Free Library building which still houses the Ilkley Library was supported by a GBP 3,000 grant from philanthopist Andrew Carnegie. It officially opened 2 October 1907, before the Town Hall, but was not open to the public for several months. The library committee wanted an impressive opening ceremony and invited the Reverend Robert Collyer. He had grown up in Ilkley, but had travelled to the United States in 1850, where he subsequently became a world famous preacher. Despite the full building not being finished until 1908 (they had invited him thinking it would be ready . . . oops!). It now has over 170,000 visitors and issues some 100,000 books each year. It became a Grade II listed building in 1976 ' of special interest, warranting every effort to preserve [it]'.
Step 8 - Chapel House: This was built in the Arts and Crafts style which was used by a movement which stood for traditional craftsmanship using simple forms, and often used medieval, romantic, or folk styles of decoration. The building was conceived of by the Rev Dr Bowman Stephenson, (a founder of the National Children’s Homes and a minister in Ilkley), with the support of local people.
During WW1 it was a social centre for wounded soldiers and Belgian evacuees and, again, through WW2 it was used for evacuees. After the war it resumed its function as an Assembly hall and Sunday School.
By the 1960s, it was badly in need of renovation and eventually it was developed into ten residences and renamed Chapel House. It still retains the lovely dressed stone-work, stone-mullioned windows, stained glass and characteristic row of horizontal windows.
The 18/11/2007 Ilkley Gazette has a short article on the award of the blue plaque and some background info on the building.