Whitby

In Living Memory

1992

It was around this year that Hogarth's Drink Wholesale Company closed its doors on its factory at the bottom of Spital Bridge. In January 1992, the Larpool Viaduct went up for sale and the toilet block at Goathland car park was extended to include disabled access. In February, a dry dock was bought and installed by Parkol Marine from Ternuezen, Holland, which would be able to lift 300 tons, with a size of 22 metres. It was, however flooded within 24 hours of arriving, after a valve failed. Also in January, the whalebones, dating from 1963, had to be taken down again to apply another protective coating. It was thought that it could be done in situ. Also in this month, the section of raised footway in Bagdale had its railings extended to the very end of the raised section after a pupil was knocked off the path into the path of an oncoming car, which had to make an emergency stop, causing another car to go into the back of that car. Also, signs were installed in Baxtergate advising drivers that vehicles would not be allowed to use Baxtergate to park, for loading only between 10:30am and 4:00pm. The signs would come into force on 10th February, with fixed penalty tickets issued, however there would be a 2 week period of grace.

The floating dry dock at Parkol Marine

Demolition was also started in February of the old Post Office garages on Crescent Avenue, opposite the Sorting Office. The building was part of A.H. Walker's garage, which he opened in the 30's. He originally had a garage on the site of the present Sorting Office, which he acquired in 1912. He intended to build a garage symmetrical to the other garage, which would stand next to it, near what is now the swimming pool entrance, but wasn't finished as World War 2 broke out and the military built temporary structures on this site, one of which was recently demolished when Coastal & Country Coaches vacated. Whitby Motor Company occupied the remaining area. Spinnaker Lodge was opened in this month, in the former Doctors Surgery section of Whitby Hospital. It's role would be to provide day care for patients over 65 years old with mental health problems, after being referred by the newly built Anchorage, on Byland Road. Also in February, in Sleights a 2nd recycling centre was opened for the village at the toilets on Eskdaleside to add to the one already near the Salmon Leap. The seats that were in front of the toilets had been removed and bins put in place.

In March, Coastal & Country Coaches moved from their home on Fairfield Way to a yard further round the estate. Their old home went to be used by Associated Co-op Creameries for storage, which was changed again in 2008, when it became Sky Scaffolding. The unit was formerly used as a glass factory & more recently a carpet & furniture retail outlet. In April, tactile slabs were installed in the middle of Chubb Hill, to aid the partially sighted with crossing the road. There would be a traffic island in the middle of the road, which would allow the pedestrian to cross the road in 2 sections, and a flashing beacon to warn drivers of the crossing. The tactile slabs would warn the pedestrian that they were coming to the pavement edge. This was the first of the kind in Whitby, but soon a lot more would follow. In May the 1st stage of Keepers Court was ready, on the site of the old Post Office Garages, which were only demolished in February.

Left: The Anchorage in Byland Road as it is today & Right: Keepers Court, Crescent Avenue, the first stage to be complete in May this year was the far end as we look at this photo, with the closer block being completed sometime soon after

In June, Tees & District buses moved back into their old depot on Upgang Lane, after they encountered difficulties in parking. The depot was however, still up for sale, but different companies had tried to get planning permission for several different uses for the building, but all had been opposed by local residents. Also sometime in the Spring of 1992, the small Co-op store in Scoresby Terrace had a change of use back to a residential property. In the summer of '92, Dennis Crookes fish factory, had the approval to build 2 extensions, 1 at the northern end and 1 at the southern end. In September, Trinity House passed responsibility of the Bell Buoy to Scarborough Borough Council. The Post Office moved from their building on Baxtergate to the Co-op superstore on 22nd October, after proposals to move to Presto's in Flowergate fell through. The Dundas Gardens housing development was completed before the end of the year. Also in this year, Astins' Estate Agents was set up. Also in June, plans were passed for a house to be built on land adjacent to Burndale House, 72 Ingham Close, which was to become 33 Iburndale Lane.

Left: Dundas Gardens, which was built on the site of the Low Stakesby Market Garden, was completed late this year. The old wall from the market garden can be seen here with the street name on it;

Right: 33 Iburndale Lane at Sleights built in this year on land adjacent to 72 Ingham Close