The Quaker History of Spyglass

On June 6th 1700, Thomas Walker, the son of John and Esther Walker married Elizabeth Vasie in a declaration ceremony before the Whitby Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends - better known as the Quakers.

The newly-wed Quaker couple would have been very happy when Elizabeth gave birth to their first child - Esther Walker - on the 21st June 1701.  

Overlooking the Harbour, Spyglass 1708 is Part of Whitby's Seafaring History.

But happiness quickly turned to misery when baby Esther died just a month later on 16th July 1701.

Such was the way, with very high infant mortality in Whitby in those far off times.

But two years later, Elizabeth and Thomas would have been relieved when young baby John Walker was born on 11th August 1703.

John was followed by baby Eliza walker on 26th March 1706; and then baby Thomas Walker on 31st November 1708.

And so the Walker family was now complete; with parents Thomas and Elizabeth, and three surviving children moving into their newly completed home in Masons Yard off Flowergate in 1708.

To commemorate the occassion, the Walker's erected a stone plaque above the front door which remains to this day!

The Historic Walker Plaque.

This was the start of Spyglass 1708 and it's history in Whitby.

The house was a grand affair; and suitable for the Walker's who were known as wealthy Quaker ship merchants and seafarers involved in the Yorkshire coal trade to London; and in financing Whitby's lucrative Whaling industry later on in the Eighteenth century.

A close relative - another John Walker - became famous for apprenticing the young James Cook into the sea trade; where he went on to make his mark as the World's greatest explorer and navigator. 

You can still visit John Walker's home on Grape Lane in Whitby - now the Captain Cook Memorial Museum - where the young James lodged with that side of the Walker family. It's only two minutes walk from Spyglass 1708!

And it is certainly possible that young James Cook would have visited Thomas and Elizabeth Walker in their home in Whitby.

This Same View Would Have Been Seen by the Walker Family Over 300 Yeas Ago!

Thomas died before Elizabeth leaving her a widow with three children; and on her death on 21st January 1740, their home became a public house known as the Rose and Crown.

And from that name, the ancient name of Millers Yard was changed to Rose & Crown Yard - which it remains to this day. 

The pub closed around 1805 when the property reverted to housing.

But being so large, it was split into several properties; which is how it remains.

Spyglass 1708 forms around a quarter of the Walker's original residence; now a Grade II Listed historic property in Whitby's conservation precinct.

In 2015 we renovated Spyglass 1708 to a high quality standard; and it is now on offer to visitors to Whitby as one of the finest holiday homes in the town.

We're writing a new page in the property's rich history!