Union Mill

Image: © Pauline E Taken: 25 Feb 2014

Union Mill was situated on this site in Upgang Road,now occupied by an apartment development of the same name, (Union Mill Apartments), and prior to that by Harrisons Showroom Garage. The idea to build a mill came about in March 1800 when a group of concerned local businessmen held a meeting at The White Horse and Griffin Inn. In the late 18th C the yields for grain crops varied considerably. In the last decade there were a series of poor harvests and as bread was a staple food, the poor were the first to suffer. The group formed Union Mill Society, which later became incorporated into Whitby Union Mill Industrial and Provident Society Ltd, the papers and minutes of meetings are currently held by Whitby Literary and Philosophical Society. The mill provided reduced cost grain for local poor people and at cost for members/shareholder of the union. Each member had their own ticket which was punched on each batch of grain received. The foundation stone for Union Mill was laid by T.Fishburn and T.Broderick in June 1800. The mill suffered storm damage in Oct 1880 and again in July 1888. It was demolished or taken down to ground floor level in 1923.

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