With a history spanning more than 150 years, W Hamond is famed for being the Original Whitby Jet Shop celebrated for transforming the unique black gemstone into coveted pieces of jewellery. Local man James Storr opened the doors to the original boutique in 1860, a time when the height of the town`s Whitby Jet jewellery and ornament production was at its greatest. It was also during this era that Queen Victoria became the gemstone`s most distinguished patron, wearing the jet-black gemstone to mourn the loss of her beloved Albert in 1861. She valued Whitby Jet jewellery so much that she made it the only jewellery allowed to be worn in court during this period. Ever since it first opened its doors, W Hamond has remained in its original place at the top of Whitby`s historic Church Street and at the foot of the famous Abbey steps, becoming an unmoveable part of the town`s heritage. The charming boutique has become a Victorian treasure since its first opening, offering a glimpse into an era when Whitby as a holiday destination was still in its infancy and fashionable Crinoline-clad ladies sought a piece of handmade Jet jewellery as a souvenir of their visit.