Ginnels & Alleys: Nip Hill

In the first of our blogs Ginnels & Alleys of Lancaster, we’re heading down Nip Hill — a narrow, cobbled lane that links St Mary’s Parade in front of Lancaster Castle with the area beside the Judges’ Lodgings. With its worn stones and timeless feel, it’s easy to imagine little has changed here in the past 250 years. The name “Nip” suggests a quick shortcut — as in “I’ll just nip through here.” And surprisingly, Lancaster once had not one, but two Nip Hills!

Before the 1850s, the original Nip Hill was on the west side of the Castle, in the area now known as Hillside. It connected Long Marsh Lane with the original site of the Grammar School. This cut-through didn’t enjoy a great reputation — it was seen as something of a nuisance, and access was eventually restricted. Even the postman had to climb the walls to deliver the mail! By 1879, the path had been absorbed into nearby gardens and vanished altogether.

To preserve the name, the cobbled slope we now call Nip Hill seems to have inherited the title — and for a while, it’s likely both lanes were known by the same name.

But this quiet little lane also carries a poignant piece of Lancaster’s history. One of its former residents was Andrew Latimer, Chief Steward aboard the Titanic. Born in Lancaster and brought up on Nip Hill, he was one of two crew members from the city known to be on board. Tragically, Andrew was among those who perished when the ship sank in 1912.