Whitby : Street Names and their history

Whitby is famous for?

Whitby (St Hilda's) Abbey, Dracula, Bram Stoker, Captain Cook, Whitby Goths, Whitby Regatta, Whitby Whaling, Fishing, St Mary's Church, Whitby Jet, Whitby Witches, Whitby Town, The Whitby Seagull, 199 Steps, Harbour, Whitby Piers, Shipping Trades, Alum Production, B&Bs, The East Cliff, Captain William Scoresby, Fisherman's Cottages, Whitby's Yards, Steps and cobbled streets, Fish and Chips, The Endeavour, Ghost Walks, Sea Food, Seaside, The West Cliff, Whitby Folk Festival, Caedmon, Frank Sutcliffe, Whitby Kippers, Lobster, Crabs and Scampi, Synod of A.D. 664, Australian 'First Fleet' supply vessels,

Do you know any other things Whitby is famous for? Let us know and we'll add it to the list, see here!

Discover Whitby's street names and their history here

Break the ice, Jury, Binge drinking, Incredible Hulk, Down the hatch, ...discover these and many more well known phrases from our maritime past here

Find out about the building styles and architecture found in the buildings of Whitby here.

Whitby in times gone by, ads from the past here

Old Whitby Ad

In 1189 Richard II made Whitby into a free borough. About 35 years later four main streets (called gates) were named in the Abbey register. Haggersgate, Flowergate and Baxergate on the west side of the Esk and Kirkgate on the east (now known as Church Street).

Flowergate is also mentioned in a deed dated just after 1220 and several other documents. It has also been referred to as High Street by locals.

Bagdale was fromerly called Backdale (AD1393), which runs from chubb hill near pannett park. Bagdale only consisted of a few houses on the south side right up until 1740. Bagdale Hall was owned by the Conyer family and sold to the Bushell family in 1595. Bagdale has some of the grandest houses in whitby, being built in the early 1700's. No 13 has the plaque dedicated to the whaler William Scoresby. see map here.

Bagdale beck (AD1393) once a route taken by boats, is now enclosed, and runs under Victoria Square where the bus depot is situated. see map here.

Baxtergate (AD1401) , named after a family named baxter who owned property on the street. Baxergate was built over a sand bank, and evidence of this has been found in excavations which have uncovered old mooring posts. Baxtergate is now home to most of the banks, Church Street being the favoured location for bank in the past. see map here.

Bridge Street - originally Bridgegate, formerly called Wayneman Street, named after Grace Waynman, who used to run a well known inn, where she served a drink called "Bumbo" in the 18th century. Bumbo used to be a popular drink in the days of piracy, it's a mixture of dark rum, water, sugar and nutmeg.

Brunswick Street (from flowergate down to bagdale), formerly called Skate Lane or Schatgate (AD1417). see map here.

Church Street, the oldest street in Whitby (originally Kirkgate AD1318) originally was a short street running from the foot of the church steps (199 steps) to the corner of market place at the Black Bull House (formerly an Inn). Kirkgate occurs before 1318 and Church-stair-foot fifty years later. The stairs leading up to the church from the north end of Kirkgate existed at an earlier period.

Church Street has also been known as Highgate, High Street, Crossgate, Southgate and Churchgate is mentioned in various deeds from 1600 to 1700. Southgate being on the south of the street and Crossgate on the north nearest the market cross. see map here.

Fishburn yard was where Captain Cooks ships resolution, endeavour and adventure were built.

Grape Lane had houses on both sides in 1595 but probably existed as a street before the dissolution of the Monastery was also referred to as Low Street.

Haggersgate (Hakelsougate AD1296). see map here.

Henrietta Street, anciently called Haggerlythe or Haglathe (A.D. 1270) is so called from Henrietta, the wife of Nathaniel Cholmley. The Cholmley family lived at what is now the abbey visitor centre. Houses along henrietta street have suffered from a number of landslides over the years. The last serious movement was in March 1923. see map here.

Market Place (AD1640) features the old town hall (tollbooth) which was erected by the Cholmley Family in 1788. The architect was Jonothan Pickernell, the engineer of the whitby piers. Market place was where public whipping of thieves and beggars took place, at one time a frequent event. see map here.

Skinner Street named after the Skinner family started to appear in 1762 built on part of Farndale Fields.

St Anns Lane which runs between St Anns Staith and the end of Flowergate was formerly called Hells Lane, probably because of it's steepness.. see map here.

Victoria Square, in 1830 was an enclosed paddock, with a few houses abutting on Bagdale Beck with fishing facilities at high tide.

reference: the streets of whitby and thier associations by hugh p kendall 1938 and rev george young whitby and it's environs 1824.

Discover the maritime history and origin of everyday sayings and words with The Whitby Seagull.

Whitby is famous for?

WHITBY STREET NAMES AND THEIR HISTORY