As far as we know West Street has always been called West Street – being the street that stretched from the main town gate on the south of the old town up to the quay at the north.

In medieval times it was sparsely populated along its western side, the side that faced the marsh, but more built-up along the eastern side, the side that backed onto the main part of the old town.

As the town expanded and spilled outside the old medieval defences West Street became built-up but remained firmly commercial with cattle pens, warehousing and hotels in addition to housing.

With the coming of the railway and the addition of the substantial new Victorian Quay, West Street became an extension of the main road into town and took the shape we see today.