Whitby Old Town Hall and Market Place

Revitalisation of the Grade II* Listed Old Town Hall building and Market Place in Whitby through renovation and renewal.

Picture of the front of Whitby Town Hall

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 and 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 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 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

This project aims to deliver improvements to the Grade II* Listed Old Town Hall building and Market Place, which are an iconic part of the town's heritage. We will repair and restore the building to secure its structural integrity and improve the appearance of this unique heritage asset for Whitby. The available floor space in both the first floor and undercroft will be repurposed to provide year-round community and cultural activities alongside existing market usage and we will improve connection to the market place area through the creation of a set of steps leading down from the undercroft, and replace the paving with cobbled stones and install anchor points for market stalls.

The aims of the project are to:

Build on the history and heritage of the old town hall building and market place by repairing and restoring the building to secure its structural integrity and improve the appearance of this unique heritage asset for Whitby
Restore the old town hall building a key focal point for Whitby through refurbishment and repurposing the building for community use, creating 112sqm of floor space to ensure the building is sustainable and income-generating in the long term.
Create a vibrant and bustling year round market place, with 81sqm of improved quality of public realm and improved facilities for market traders, driving an increase in footfall and dwell times

Project updates

Stakeholder and public engagement was carried out on the project in Spring 2022.

The summary of the engagement results can be found here (pdf / 121 KB).

As a result of feedback received from stakeholders and the community, the project team amended plans and removed the proposal to create a second platform at the bottom of the Market Place. Further amendments to the proposals were carried out in September 2024 and the extension to the undercroft was also removed from scope. The existing set of steps will be improved and widened, meeting building regulations to better connect the undercroft to the Market Place.

diagram depicting side view of market, extending the bottom floor over the existing sloped cobbles, with a stepped platform coming down from the extended floor to meet the sloped cobbles

In July 2023, planning permission and listed building consent was received for the project with support from Historic England. Tenders to appoint contractors to deliver the improvements to the Old Town Hall and Market Place were received in October 2024. As a result, Simpsons (York) Limited was appointed to carry out the works, which commenced on site in February 2025.

Scaffolding has been erected around the building to facilitate the initial works, which include repairs to the roof, chimney stack, windows, and stonework. The clock will be removed from the tower and sent to a specialist conservation company for repair and restoration before being reinstalled.

Simultaneously, work on the first-floor chamber will be carried out, including the installation of a toilet and kitchenette, heating, new lighting, WiFi, CCTV and a full repair and restoration of the room's fabric.

Once these works are completed, the scaffolding will be removed, and the contractors will proceed to complete the works in the undercroft and Market Place.

The entire project is expected to last approximately 32 weeks.

Whilst the Old Town Hall building and Market Place is being restored and improved, Whitby Outdoor Market will temporarily relocate to Dock End and Quay Road, Whitby, where residents and visitors can find all their usual favourite market stalls. Market trading days are Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Whitby Old Town Hall guidance

The Old Town Hall and Market Place project involves several key elements. The Grade II* Listed building will undergo comprehensive repairs both inside and outside. This includes specialist repairs to the stonework and clock tower, window and flooring repairs, and a complete roof refit. The first-floor chamber will be upgraded with a toilet and kitchenette to meet modern standards while preserving its heritage. The undercroft will receive a new suspended ceiling with integrated lighting, electricity points, and a hand-washing sink for market traders. Additionally, new stone steps will be constructed on the west elevation to comply with building regulations, paving flags will be replaced with cobbled stones, and anchor points will be installed to assist traders with windy conditions.

Project cost

The project has a budget of £1.140 million due to the extensive repairs required for the Grade II* listed building, which must adhere to specific standards and materials. The building also needs modern amenities like water supply, heating, telecommunication connectivity, and upgraded electricity to ensure its sustainability for future use. The construction costs are in line with current market prices, as indicated by the tenders received.

Future use of the Old Town Hall

Planning permission has been granted for the Old Town Hall to be used for:

E(a) display or retail sale of goods (excluding hot food)
F1(b) display of works of art
F1(c) museums
F2(b) halls or meeting places for community use

The first-floor chamber is intended to serve as a local heritage centre/museum, while the undercroft will continue to be used by market traders on trading days and as a community event space outside of these days. There are no plans to convert the building into an eating or drinking establishment.

Impact on Whitby Market traders

During the refurbishment, Whitby Outdoor Market will temporarily relocate to Dock End and New Quay Road. Once the project is completed, the market will return to the Market Place and undercroft, continuing to trade on Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Road closures

Church Street will remain open during the works. However, the road to the south elevation of the Old Town Hall may be impacted, also affecting Sandgate due to its one-way system. Scaffolding for the roof and clock tower repairs has been designed to keep all surrounding roads open, with a height restriction in place for vehicles over 3.3 metres. Transit-sized vehicles and cars will not be affected. Any changes to highway access will be communicated to local businesses.

Impact on local businesses

Measures have been taken to minimise disruption to local businesses, including:

designing scaffolding to keep surrounding roads open
keeping the site perimeter small and close to the market boundary
ensuring contractor vehicles are parked off-site after unloading
storing materials and skips off-site

We have appointed an experienced contractor familiar with listed buildings' constraints. While some disruption is expected, the repairs are essential to preserve the Old Town Hall as a heritage asset.

Timing of the project

The start date was delayed due to the need for an updated tender. The project cannot be postponed further due to the Towns Fund programme ending in March 2026 and potential cost increases. Additionally, stonework repairs are best conducted in warmer weather to avoid damage during winter conditions.

Understanding the Towns Fund

The Towns Fund is a £3.6 billion initiative aimed at revitalising towns across the UK. Whitby is among the 101 towns selected by the government to benefit from this fund. In 2021, Whitby received £17.1 million to support the implementation of the Whitby Town Investment Plan. One of the key projects funded through this initiative is the restoration of the Grade II* Old Town Hall and Market Place, which was identified as a priority within the Whitby Town Investment Plan. Information can be found by visiting our About the Scarborough and Whitby Town Deals page.

The role of the Whitby Town Deal Board

The Whitby Town Deal Board plays a crucial role in the success of the Whitby Town Investment Plan. This board is a collaborative partnership comprising private, public, and community representatives. They were instrumental in developing the investment plan and selecting the projects for delivery. The board is responsible for overseeing the management and effective delivery of these projects. For more detailed information, visit the Whitby Town Deal Board page.

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