Quaytown houses

Quaytown was developed in the 17th century to serve the needs of the increasingly busy harbour providing inns and lodging houses, stores, workshops for everything from ship repair to herring curing, and homes. Some houses were substantial, several had three storeys because of the restricted site, and by 1646 there were said to be 60 new houses. Building continued despite damage from the sea on one side and falling rocks on the other.

A major fire in 1792, storms and the building of the Esplanade that involved demolishing all the buildings backing onto the sea have not wholly destroyed the original character of the area and rows of 17th-century houses survive on the south-west side of Quay Street.