Whitby Trio

Fortune’s Smokehouse

Fortune’s smokehouse and shop is one of Whitby’s most famous attractions and they can both be found on the pretty and historic east-side of Whtiby, North Yorkshire. Established in 1872 by William fortune.

The smokehouse nestles beneath the ancient cliffs, upon which St. Mary’s Church stands. It is located towards the end of a narrow cobbled street known as Henrietta Street, beyond the famous 199 steps which lead up to Whitby Abbey.

As you walk towards the smokehouse the aroma of wafting oak wood smoke fills the air and your nose will lead you towards what surely must be one of the best places in Britain to buy kippers!* The distinctive aroma will whet your appetite long before you even arrive at the smokehouse.

*A kipper is a whole herring, a small, oily fish, that has been split in a butterfly fashion from tail to head along the dorsal ridge, gutted, salted or pickled, and cold-smoked over smouldering woodchips. In Britain, Ireland and some regions of North America, kippers are most commonly consumed for breakfast.

Red Rooftops of Whitby

Bram Stoker (author of Dracula) arrived in Whitby in July 1890, having been recommended to visit the Yorkshire coastal town by the actor Henry Irving. He spent a week exploring Whitby alone before being joined by his wife and baby son for a family holiday. Stoker quickly became enchanted by the winding cobbled streets, dramatic cliffs and red rooftops.

Arguments Yard

ArgumentssYard forms a part of the old Medieval settlement of Whitby and could be closed in case of marauders from the sea. Early deeds in the 1650s refer to Thomas Argment living in the vicinity and the same spelling still occurs in 1830. It is believed Argument is actually an anglicisation of the Flemish name Argomont.


The Whitby yards, alleyways and ‘ghauts’ as they are known locally are the spaces between tiers of houses that were built back to back often into the cliffs in Whitby to house fishing families. In times past the yards of Whitby were often overcrowded areas with as many as 30 or 40 families living in abject poverty. The yard itself was the centre of that particular small community, where the children would play and the women would do their laundry, chat to their neighbours and help each other out if and when they could.