The Alley Steps, a set of steep granite steps located between #11 and #15 Washington Street, provides a shortcut to High Street. Traditionally lined with hollyhock flowers, the Alley Steps were once used by fishermen to climb the hill to their fish flakes – fish spread on wooden racks to dry.
Lookout Court, though appearing as a street, is open for foot traffic only. Located in Marblehead’s Historic District near Abbot Hall, this public way narrows to stone steps and a small path between houses that is known as Prospect Alley. The vista offers magnificent views of the town and Marblehead Harbor.
Mechanic Street to Market Square
This public way near the Old Town House at #4 Mugford Street begins as a paved pathway divided by a wooden railing. The alley leads uphill to stone steps with a rusted iron railing, exiting at the top near #22 Mechanic Street.
Elm Street to High Street
Across from #17 Elm Street, just west of the corner of Elm and Dunn’s Way, are seven stone steps leading to a small landing then four more steps. From there the alley becomes a partially-paved, mostly dirt path up a hill to High Street where one encounters a stone wall. While appearing to be private property, with abutters storing boats on either side of the path and cars parked at the High Street entrance, it is nevertheless a public way.
Marblehead’s Ways Open for Public Passage
From wherever they lived and worked on land, early residents of Marblehead walked the most direct paths to the harbor and ocean that were their livelihood. While many of these historical pathways have disappeared over the years, many are still open for public use both in downtown Marblehead and on Marblehead Neck.
Although it sometimes feels as if you are walking through someone’s back yard, follow these maps and directions and you’ll stay on public rights of way. Each marker on the overview map below shows where a passageways is located. For details, click on the markers in the overview maps or on the numbered lists below the overview map.
Each passageway is shown on its own map, and a marker shows the location of each path. When visiting these sites, please be respectful of the neighbors and park only on the main streets.
Passageways in Downtown Marblehead
Lookout Court & Prospect Alley
Hollyhock Lane
Alley Steps
Gingerbread Lane
Gingerbread Hill
Knights Hill Road
Alley – Elm to High
Alley – Market Square
Passageways on Marblehead Neck
