Lookout Court and Prospect Alley

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.


 

Entrance to Lookout Court
1. Entrance to Lookout Court
Half way down Lookout Court which empties into Prospect Alley
2. Half way down Lookout Court which empties into Prospect Alley
Stairs at the top of Prospect Alley looking up hill
3. Stairs at the top of Prospect Alley looking uphill
Turn on Prospect Alley looking down hill
4. Turn on Prospect Alley looking downhill
Entrance to Prospect Alley from Lee Street
5. Entrance to Prospect Alley from Lee Street

 

Knight’s Hill Road

While beginning as a paved street off Pond Street, Knight’s Hill Road quickly turns into a narrow dirt and gravel path leading down a steep hill between houses. The path exits at the corner of Dunn’s Lane and Elm Street, directly across from the Elm Street Alley.  (See below.) Together, Knights Hill Road and Elm Street Alley  offer a short cut from Redd’s Pond to Washington Street.


 

Knight's Hill Road paved section near Redds Pond
1. Knight’s Hill Road paved section near Redds Pond
Half way down the path
2. Half way down the path
Knight's Hill Road path from Dunn's Lane
3. Knight’s Hill Road path from Dunn’s Lane

 

Hollyhock Lane

Hollyhock Lane begins as a narrow flagstone path located close to a house and becomes a grassy lane ending in a driveway on Merritt Street. This short public way is accessible from a small private  parking lot off Circle Street, near #116 Front Street.

 

3_hollyhock_lane_1b
1. Hollyhock Lane entrance from Circle Street-stay on the grass walk between the brick walkway and the house.

 

Flagstone path
2. Flagstone path
Hollyhock Lane entrance from Merritt Street
3. Hollyhock Lane entrance from Merritt Street

 

Gingerbread Hill

Gingerbread Hill
At the end of Gingerbread Lane, continue across Norman Street to Gingerbread Hill.


 

Entrance to Gingerbread Hill from Norman Street
1. Entrance to Gingerbread Hill from Norman Street
Entrance to the path down the hill
2. Entrance to the path down the hill
Half way down the path
3. Half way down the path
Looking up at the path from Norman Street
4. Looking up at the path from Norman Street

 

Gingerbread Lane

The entrance to Gingerbread Lane, which looks like a country lane, is found on the left off Beacon Street, just past Little Harbor. This narrow dirt road leads to a fork; bear left towards Old Burial Hill and Redd’s Pond. Continue straight along a grassy path bordered by a stone wall on the left. This path becomes a narrow paved road at the point where it turns right before ending on Norman Street. Cross Norman Street and continue up Gingerbread Hill (See second map below) following it around to the right at the top of the hill. Continue along until you arrive at #26 Gingerbread Hill. To the left of this house you will find a well-defined 10-foot path leading between two stone walls. Follow this path across the open area and down the hill to return to Norman Street.

Gingerbread Lane


 

Gingerbread Lane entrance from Beacon Street
1. Gingerbread Lane entrance from Beacon Street
Turn to the right then left to follow the path
2. Turn to the right then left to follow the path
Path through the woods
3. Path through the woods
End of the path
4. End of the path
Gingerbread Lane entrance from Norman Street
5. Gingerbread Lane entrance from Norman Street

 

Alley – Market Square

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.

 

Alley entrance from Washington Street
1. Alley entrance from Washington Street
Lower section of alley
2. Lower section of alley
Top secton of Alley
3. Top section of Alley
Alley entrance from Mechanic Street
4. Alley entrance from Mechanic Street

 

Alley – Elm to High

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.


 

Alley entrance from Elm Street
1. Alley entrance from Elm Street
Alley entrance from High Street
2. Alley entrance from High Street

 

Alley Steps

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.

 

Alley Steps entrance from Washington Street
1. Alley Steps entrance from Washington Street

Half way up Alley Steps
2. Half way up Alley Steps
Alley Steps entrance from High Street
3. Alley Steps entrance from High Street