Staithes

The name Staithes derives from Old English and means 'landing-place'.[1] It has been suggested that it is so named after being the port for the nearby Seaton Hall and Hinderwell.[2] The spelling Steeas is sometimes used to indicate the traditional local dialect pronunciation /stɪəz/.[3]

At the turn of the 20th century, there were 80 full-time fishing boats putting out from Staithes. A hundred years later there are still a few part-time fisher men. There is a long tradition of using the coble (a traditional fishing vessel) in Staithes.[4][5]

Staithes

Staithes has numerous narrow streets and passageways; one of these, Dog Loup, with a width of just 18 inches (45.7 cm), is claimed to be the narrowest alley in the world.[6] It was reported in 1997 that the Royal Mail were encouraging the occupants of Staithes to number their houses instead of relying on names. Whilst the usual postperson had no difficulty with the narrow streets and cottages, the relief postal staff were getting confused. Royal Mail also claimed it would aid the efficiency of their postal machines which automatically read the addresses.[7]

^ Ekwall, Eilert (1960). The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names (4th ed.). Oxford: Clarendon Press. p. 436. ISBN 0-19-869103-3. ^ "Staithes conservation area appraisal" (PDF). northyorkmoors.org.uk. North York Moors National Park Authority. January 2001. p. 3. Retrieved 3 April 2017. ^ Kellett, Arnold (1994), The Yorkshire Dictionary of Dialect, Tradition and Folklore, Smith Settle, p. 175, ISBN 1-85825-016-1 ^ "Ports.org.uk / Staithes". www.ports.org.uk. Retrieved 31 March 2017. ^ "From Captain Cook to CBeebies at the seaside". Yorkshire Evening Post. 6 March 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017. ^ "A Travel guide to the seaside town of Staithes, Yorkshire". Travel Earth. 23 May 2010. Retrieved 2 July 2021. ^ Burnham, Nigel (24 March 1997). "Number's up for Captain Cook's village". The Independent. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2017.