1987

1987

On November 23rd, I entered this world. I was born in Whitby to Gary & Tracey Prior, whose father, George Keat Purvis, was my inspiration for this publication. I started researching copies of the Whitby Gazettes in February 2012 using a microfilm reader at Whitby library. Over the coming months, I worked through each edition, making notes of what I thought was relevant to include. Some things which some people may feel are important, I may have chosen to omit, or maybe simply didn't realise at the time of writing that a particular event occurred, so this is by no means a full history of Whitby since 1987, it is just a drop in the ocean of what has gone on, I suppose it could be more accurately called 'a drop in the North Sea'!
Just after I started my research in April 2012, my grandad sadly passed away and he didn't know I was doing this, as at that time, I didn't really know myself. I carried on researching and then started to take modern photos to accompany the writing and also, where I could, I inserted some of my grandad's photos that he had taken over the years. So, through this publication, I aim to document the main changes to the image of Whitby, along with other changes of significance since my birth - changes that have happened 'In Living Memory'.

So, starting I will start this publication by looking at the end of 1987. Clarence House on Baxtergate was turned into 8 self-contained flats without first obtaining planning permission. The company carrying out the work, Homefree of Whitby, were also carrying out work to 7a Cliff Street, where they were converting a house into 2 dwellings where they had also not obtained planning permission. Both projects were felt to be of poor condition as in the Cliff Street case, 1 of the bedrooms had no window and at the Clarence House site, the rooms were small with only a single access from Wellington Road for all 8 flats, however, planning permission was granted for both projects.

Also around this time, plans to restore and build a rear extension at a Georgian Coach House, 5 St. Hilda's Terrace, was approved by councillors.

Work was complete by the beginning of December on work at Sandgate & Marketplace which saw the old surfaces replaced with flagstones, similar work had taken place prior to this at upper Church Street. The work also included replacement of modern-style street lighting with old style, lantern-type lighting. The £10,000 scheme was paid for by Scarborough Borough Council & North Yorkshire County Council, with a grant also coming from English Heritage. Also on the restoration front around the same time, moving upstream to Ruswarp & Sleights, the bridges of the two villages were sandblasted and re-painted. The road bridge at Ruswarp & road bridge at Sleights were part of the scheme, as well as the footbridge at Sleights. All were painted in the same blue colour.

The backing was given for a sports hall to the rear of the Trinity United Reformed Church Hall on Flowergate. The sports hall would measure 50' by 20' and be used for badminton, carpet bowls, and would include an adjoining gym. It was also around this time that it was agreed to allow a change of use for 9a Mount Farm Close, from a fish & chip shop to residential accommodation.

Westbourne Close was the name decided upon by the Borough Environmental Health & Control committee, for a recently-completed housing development at land off Westbourne Road. Also on the residential housing front, old buildings at Raft Yard, Spital Bridge were converted into cottages.

Left: Entrance to Westbourne Court from Westbourne Road; Right: Old buildings at Raft Yard, Spital Bridge redeveloped

It was around this time that the winning bid by the North Eastern Co-operative Society was made to British Rail for the supermarket site in Whitby's Town Centre, to the East of the railway station. The bid put an end to speculation that a supermarket would be built at Mayfield Nurseries. Also on a similar topic, the Co-op at Staithes was granted an alcohol license, after residents had been asking when the shop was going to start selling alcohol.

Plans emerged to demolish the former lifeboat house at Upgang after the building, which hadn't been used for a number of years, had fallen into a bad state of repair. The building, which was built in 1898, would cost £5,000 to demolish. Sometime during this year, a housing development to be called Sutcliffe Court was built on land to the South of Byland Road, with 20 semi-detached houses, 13 bungalows & 6 flats were built. Also in this year, the toilets at Upgang Lane near the cricket pavilion were closed for good. Also in this year, plans were passed for a housing development at Sleights, on Smiddyfields, where only 1 house previously existed. The development comprised of a further 11 homes, however one was built at a later date, in 2004, when plans were passed for a bungalow to be built at number 5, which was originally plot 3.

Sutcliffe Court as it is today from its junction with Byland Road