Middle Earth Tavern
| Middle Earth Tavern | |
|---|---|
 The pub in 2009 | |
.svg.png)  Location within North Yorkshire | |
General information | |
| Location | Church Street, Whitby, North Yorkshire, England |
| Coordinates | 54°29′02″N 0°36′34″W / 54.4839°N 0.6095°W |
| Year built | 17th century |
| Renovated | 19th century (extended) |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
Official name | 26, Church Street |
| Designated | 4 December 1972 |
| Reference no. | 1148333 |
The Middle Earth Tavern is a historic pub on Church Street in Whitby, a town in North Yorkshire, England.
The building was constructed in the 17th century, and extended to the right in the 19th century.[1] At some point it was converted into a pub, and named for J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle Earth, perhaps in reference to Tolkien having sketched nearby Whitby Abbey while a student.[2] The building was Grade II listed in 1972.[1] While it became vacant in the early 21st century, it was reopened as a restaurant and bar.[3] Following flooding, the internal ground floor walls were left as bare brick, but contained assorted bric a brac and various references to Tolkien's work.[4]
The pub is rendered and has a pantile roof. There are two storeys and attics, and five bays. The central doorway has pilasters, a frieze and a cornice. The windows are double-hung sashes in architraves and there are two gabled dormers with bargeboards and finials.[1] Inside, it has a lounge and pool room.[4]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 Historic England. "26, Church Street (Grade II) (1148333)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
- ↑ Himelfield, Dave (3 January 2021). "The stories behind the Yorkshire pubs with the weirdest names". Yorkshire Live. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
- ↑ Numminen, Anttoni James (16 August 2023). "Whitby's The Middle Earth Tavern gets 'retrospective' permission to install balconies, despite objections". The Scarborough News. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
- 1 2 Numminen, Anttoni James (11 March 2026). "Famous Whitby pub reapplies to place outdoor seating on the pavement". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 18 April 2026.