Melissa has been cataloguing our guide book archive onto Axiell and has found amusing articles and adverts. The collection features guides dating from 1884; printed and published by companies such as Horne & Son Ltd., Ward, Lock & Co. and W. T. Gaines.
Each guide provides the reader with an in-depth look into Whitby and the surrounding area. I have selected a few of the guide books to take a look at…
A snippet of Ward & Lock’s Illustrated Guide to, and Popular History of Whitby, 1884:
Hotels
“Whitby is well supplied with good hotels, among the chief of which are – The Royal, on the West Cliff; the Crown, in Flowergate; and the Angel, Belle, Talbot, and Albion, in Baxtergate; and the Station temperance hotel, close to the chief railway station.”
These guides take you on excursions through the villagers and towns nearby…
“Sneaton, a village about three miles from Whitby, where the foundation stone of an old castle may still be traced…”
“Robin Hoods Bay…The bay and village are believed to have derived that name from the celebrated outlaw, known as “Bold Robin Hood.” It is presumed he retired hither to avoid pursuit. On the moors above may now be seen two small hills, some hundred yards apart, known by the name of the Butts, where tradition asserts he practised his band in shooting with the long bow.”
The guide advertisers local and national businesses.
A peep through W. & T. Gaines Illustrated Souvenir Guide to Whitby and Neighbourhood, 1908:
The Market Place, Whitby:
“The bounden duty of the visitor is the Saturday morning visit to the market. In the season, admist a scene almost Oriental, country women shew their produce in the Hall, and vie with each other in attracting buyers to empty their baskets, whilst outside the Market Place, stalls are laden with fruit and other comestibles. The best time for a visit is about ten oclock.”
A glimpse at Horne & Son Ltd. Whitby, Yorkshire 1932:
These guide books are purely staged on Whitby and close surrounding area, featuring an abundance of adverts relating to local business and holiday accommodation. I think the introduction is wonderfully worded:
“Here is England at its loveliest, full of colour, restful, unspoiled, with air like wine…Places, like people, acquire character with years, and Whitby has been acquiring hers for the past thirteen centuries. We who belong to her may travel the world, but we always return and say “There is no place like Whitby.”
“Rainfall, Sunshine, Temperature – Rainfall is the lowest recorded in England, and the average mean temperature throughout the year one of the highest.”
On the back of this particular edition it features the Kirby’s Hotel, Whitby (no longer operating) but a rather grubby looking picture (due to the printing)
…however inside is another loose-leaf advert for the hotel giving a more aesthetic appearance with this note:
“Owing to the very unsatisfactory way in which the above illustration printed on the outside back cover, due to the uneven surface of the paper, we insert this lest a wrong impression be given of Kirby’s Hotel.”
A peek at Horne and Son, Ltd., Whitby Yorkshire: Coronation Season 1937
To finish off looking at a few of the guides this poem caught our attention…or rather the comment written in small print:
“The Whitby Publicity Committee are indebted to Mr. T. A. Boyd, Banstead, Surrey, who, having written this spontaneous and very embracing tribute to Whitby for his own pleasure, handed the manuscript to one of its members with his permission to ‘do what he liked with it.’”
There was also a glowing review from a Mrs H. Atkinson regarding The West Cliff Private Hotel:
“In fact quiet home comforts, good bedrooms, with uninterrupted sea views, and good food cooked in real Yorkshire fashion are the keynotes of this hotel.”
If you are interested in having a browse through a few of these guides email library@whitbymuseum.org.uk. Also, if you are interested in becoming a volunteer like Melissa and helping to catalogue our fabulous collections contact claire.marris@whitbymuseum.org.uk.
By Claire Marris – Archive Development Officer
#archivesforall #HeritageFund
