WHITBY WORDS OF 1855

Francis Kildale Robinson was born in London in 1809, but he was not destined to live in the capital all his life. He became a resident of Whitby, and for a period of time he worked at a chemist's shop in Baxtergate.
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He became fascinated by the local accent and the dialect words and idioms that cropped up in customers' conversations all the time.
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Describing himself as an antiquary and topographer, he published several books such as the snappily titled 'Whitby: Its Abbey, and the Principal Parts of the Neighbourhood; or a Sketch of the Place in its Former History and Present State, with the Topography and Antiquities of the Surrounding Country', published by S. Reed in 1860.
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He is best known however for a different publication; ' A Glossary of Yorkshire Words and Phrases Collected in Whitby and the Neighbourhood'.
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Published in 1855 by John Russell of London, it is a dictionary of a forgotten vocabulary that developed in this isolated community cut off by the moors and the sea. 'In recluse districts we may expect to find the greatest number of genuine provincialisms — of Ancient Vocal Sounds' he wrote.
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As an example, if you're suffering from the kincough, or hooping cough as it became known, try this; 'It is the practice to put a live hairyworm into a small bag, which is hung round the neck of the patient, and as it decomposes, the cough will decrease.'

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The whole of this book can be read online by clicking here, or you can download the entire book to your computer by clicking here and saving one of the file formats. I think the PDF is best for regular usage.
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Francis Kildale Robinson died in Whitby on January 6th, 1882.
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