History
Since 1640, Whitby Market Place has hosted a public building. Initially, a toll booth commissioned by Sir Hugh Cholmley was built to house officers who collected tolls for the Lord and Lady of the manor during markets and fairs. The funds collected were used for the maintenance of Whitby Abbey. This original structure also served as a court of Pie Poudre, where market disputes were settled.
Over time, the original building fell into disrepair and was deemed unsuitable for Whitby. Consequently, it was dismantled, and in 1788, the current Town Hall was constructed. This new building was commissioned by Nathaniel Cholmley, a prominent local figure who was a descendant of Sir Hugh Cholmley. The architect for the project was Jonathan Pickernell, another Whitby local.
The Town Hall was designed in a style similar to other civic buildings of the period, featuring an undercroft for market space and a first-floor room for local authority use. The building is distinguished by its Tuscan columns, Venetian-style windows on the upper floor, and the Cholmley family crest.
Today, the Market Place and the undercroft continue to be used by local traders. However, the building is in a state of disrepair and prone to decay. The first floor has been unoccupied since 2017 due to its poor condition and the lack of services. As of 2025, a regeneration project has begun to repair and restore the Grade II* Listed Old Town Hall to its former glory.
The project
The Whitby Old Town Hall and Market Place project has successfully restored and enhanced one of the town's most important historic landmarks.
The Grade II* listed Old Town Hall building has been repaired and restored to secure its long-term future, improve its appearance and preserve an important part of Whitby's heritage. The project has also refurbished and repurposed space within the building to support community and cultural activity, helping to create a sustainable future for this iconic asset.
Targeted improvements have also been made to the Market Place, including repairs to uneven and damaged paving slabs and the installation of new steps on the west elevation of the Old Town Hall. The steps address changes in level at two of the building openings and help make the undercroft feel more accessible and welcoming, encouraging people to move through the space and into the wider Market Place.
The project has:
- repaired and restored the Old Town Hall, preserving its historic significance and improving its appearance as a landmark building in Whitby.
- created refurbished and flexible space within the building to support community, cultural and heritage activities and generate long-term use and income.
- improved access into the open undercroft, with new and improved steps on the north, south and west elevations and level access from the east, helping make the space easier and more welcoming to move through.
Community use of the building
Now that the building is complete, we are working with Whitby Town Council on its future operation and management, including potential options for community, heritage and cultural use.
Whitby Outdoor Market
Whitby Outdoor Market continues to operate in its traditional home within the Market Place and undercroft of the refurbished Old Town Hall, offering residents and visitors a varied shopping experience in the heart of the historic old town.
Trading usually takes place every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, from 9am to 6pm during summer and from 9am to 5pm in winter. In extreme weather conditions, the market may be cancelled. There are 10 market stalls, which vary throughout the week, with four traders located beneath the undercroft and six in the Market Place. Stalls sell a variety of goods, including food, antiques, jewellery, caricatures, gifts and clothing, and several traders accept card payments.
Whitby Outdoor Market is surrounded by local cafés, with public toilets located nearby at the bottom of the Market Place. The Old Town Hall and Market Place are on Whitby's historic east side, on the route towards the 199 Steps, and are around a six-minute walk from the train station and bus drop-off points across the Swing Bridge.