Whitby Jet, History of the Jet Industry in Whitby

When you visit Whitby, you will notice Whitby jet jewellery adorning the shop windows, but what is Whitby jet? Here's all you need to know.

I love admiring the different jet shop windows while wandering down Church Street. When I first visited, I couldn't help but wonder what Whitby jet was. I wanted to learn more about its history. We have put together this article so you have one place to learn all about the jet industry in Whitby.

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What is Whitby jet?

Most geologists agree that jet is a fossilised Araucaria tree. The result of millions of years of compression of decomposed wood similar in type to Chile pine or Monkey Puzzle.

A precursor to coal, jet is warm to the touch and comes in hard or soft form – hard if found near saltwater, soft if close to freshwater. The jet discovered at Whitby is of the Jurassic age, approximately 182 million years in the making.

Found in the debris from fallen cliffs and across the North York Moors, Whitby jet is of the finest in the world and has the reputation as the ‘gold standard’ in jet.

Jet has been mined and used since the Bronze Age. Whitby became the centre for turning the gemstone into jewellery and artefacts, which had its heyday during the Victorian era.

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History of Whitby jet

Jet has a long history; the pinnacle of its use was in Victorian England when it was fashioned into black jewellery that became popular for mourning the death of a loved one and as a fashion item.

During the peak of production, there were about 200 shops in Whitby fashioning jet jewellery. However, some pieces of jewellery and artefacts have been found dating back to the Roman Empire.

At the sight of an old railway station excavation in York, a coffin found to hold the remains of a Roman woman revealed her hair held back by pins made from jet. A monastery in Saxon, Streanaeshalch, revealed pieces of Whitby jet jewellery and literary evidence of jet made into beads, rings and crosses that the monks had worn. Vikings fashioned jet into crosses, one of which had been unearthed in York. A chess piece, also believed to be of Viking origin, was also found.

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Queen Victoria and the Fossil Coast

It is in no small way that Whitby came to prominence during the reign of Victoria. Leisure time for the Victorians was a revolutionary concept; consequently, spa towns appeared nationwide. Whitby became an instant hit, visited by tourists seeking a breath of sea air and a stroll along the promenade.

The link to Queen Victoria and the world-famous jet industry is what put Whitby on the map. In 1861, at the funeral of Albert, the Queen's beloved husband, Victoria, wore a jet brooch as part of her mourning dress. The endorsement of a monarch sealed the fame of this unique and unusual stone forever and, with it, the fortunes of Whitby.

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The jewellery industry

The Whitby jet jewellery industry dates back to the early 1800s when a retired naval officer known as Captain Tremlett decided there was money to be made from the gemstone. Captain Tremlett noticed two locals, one of whom was a popular publican, John Carter, making small crosses and beads from a locally found jet.

Wanting to cut down the time it took to fashion the little beads, Tremlett asked the local lathe worker, Mathew Hill, to create a range of beads using his lathe…a request that ultimately led to the start of the jet industry in Whitby.

By 1850, the area boasted over 50 workshops, employing 1400 men.

The quality of the jet pieces made in Whitby became a talking point nationwide. As a result, countless Victorian ladies travelled to the area to adorn themselves with a piece of jet.

The great exhibition

One of the most talented jet sculptors of the time, Issac Greenbury, took his creations to London’s Great Exhibition of 1851. He secured numerous orders for commission pieces that are still seen worldwide today.

During the late 1800s, the East Cliff was full of small, family-run shops and studios. The West Cliff was home to large manufacturers. As a town industry, the jet created an annual turnover equivalent to around £3 million today (at its peak). It continued to be incredibly lucrative until the 1st World War demanded the attention of the jet workers.

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Buying jet jewellery in Whitby today

Today, there are still several Whitby jet shops in the area. One jewellery shop that has truly stood the test of time is that of W.Hamond, the original Whitby jet jeweller established in 1860.

The range of jewellery pieces available is immense. During the 1900s, jet gemstones were most commonly associated with memorial jewellery simply because of their intense black colour. Today, all kinds of pieces are perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re looking for something simple, such as a solid jet heart necklace, or after something a bit more intricate for a special occasion, you’re sure to find it in Whitby.

Every piece of jet jewellery handcrafted in a local workshop will be unique in some way.

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So there you go, that's all you need to know about Whitby jet! It's a beautiful gemstone with a fascinating history. Jet is a lovely way to take home a little piece of Whitby with you. Let us know whether you own any jet jewellery in the comments.