Jonathan Otley was recognised as the Keswick Watchmaker. He was the local expert on geology, constructed the first maps of the area. He corresponded as an equal with many scientists of the period 1810 to 1850, including Mr Dalton the world-famed chemist from 1812 and Professor Adam Sedgwick of Trinity College, Cambridge, who was a long time friend, shared his last day and prayed with him.

His memory is kept alive in Keswick Museum, as a careful scientist knowing the meteorology, botany and geology of the district, but shy because he had a stutter. We visited the Keswick museum, where there is a display of some of Jonathan's relics, including the Surveying Instruments used by him, his Guide Books in 8 editions from 1837 to 1850, and this map.

Jonathan Otley 1766 - 1856 hiked and wrote about his ideas. In 1825 he desribed Ennerdale's Pillar Rock as unclimbable as the peak could not be reached by walking - so sparking a competition won by John Atkinson in 1826.
He had also gained exceptional skill in engraving on copper, so was appreciated by the gentry who came to him to have their seals designed.

Poet Robert Southey owned a musical box, and Jonathan added an inscribed plate 'Repaired by Jonathan Otley 1818'. This box later went to South Africa with a member of the Southey family. He lived at Greta Hall and was known for the large number of books he owned.

John Dalton 1766 - 1844 shared his interest in the Lake District (and named Jonathan as one of the executors of his Will). They worked together to determine the composition of gas from the floating island at Derwentwater and Jonathan published his findings in 1819.

The Astronomer Royal, Sir George Airey came to the 'Lakes' to see and converse with him.

William Wordsworth 7 Apr 1770 - 1850 who was born at Cockermouth, lived at Rydal from 1813 and is buried at Grasmere with his sister Dorothy, wife Mary and 3 children.

Samuel Taylor Colridge in August 1802 made a nine-day hike from Keswick around the district including a climb to the top of Scafell.

Sir John Richardson 1787 - 1865, the distinguished Arctic explorer, is buried near the Lych Gate at St Oswalds Grasmere

The railway line from Kendal to the new town Windermere was planned in 1847, built from Penrith to Cockermouth in 1856 but is now closed.

After over 5 years, Jonathan moved into Keswick and closer to his clients. Jonathan obtained lodgings in Kings Head Yard at 6/- per week with John Robson, and rented a room next door for 1/- a week, which he retained for 56 years.
He was 'good with figures' and able to write his ideas fluently. He also had the gift of being able to visualise and so invent drawings and techniques, making the instruments he needed in surveying and mapmaking, and in determining the geology and botany of this area (even to thermometers to find why plants favoured certain places).
From about 1800, the common land was being enclosed, and Jonathan was in demand to do the surveying and map making this required. He had an intense desire to understand the area around Grasmere and Keswick, and invented the instruments he needed - a rain guage erected on the highest point of Crow Park from which he took daily readings from 1841 to 1852 when he could no longer do the daily walk. The outside container remained in place at least till 1912, as the turning point for the boys 'fell races' from the town held as part of the St Oswald's Day celebrations.

Households obtained their water from wells and the water was not suspected as a source of the epidemics in the area. His microscope and chemicals to determine the purity of the water from the various wells and middens in use resulted in him advocating a public water supply by pipes to the town - an asset brought to fruition in his old age.
Bridges are an important part of any hike - crossing streams is never easy. The bridge at Grasmere over the River Rothay at St Oswalds was a familiar sight of Jonathan's youth. Tom Wilson reports that Jonathan's homemade barometer was needed to help determine the heights of the hills. He carried a spade to cut drainage gutters to make the path passable and, with his friend Charlie Wright, made small bridges where they were required, so opening the hike routes he described.

Jonathan Otley 19 Jan 1766 - 7 Dec 1856, brother of Jane, geologist, map maker, watch mender, meteorologist who invented a rain gauge, and correspondent with the notable scientists of his times, has a memorial plaque near the site of his shop known as 'Jonathan up the steps'.
It reads:
Here lived Jonathan Otley, 1766 - 1856. Geologist and clockmaker. A humble student of nature and science, who laboured for his fellows.