World Record!!

We are delighted that Ebenezer Place has been officially recognised by Guinness World Records as the Shortest Street in the World.

Caithnessians are noted for their tenacity but we take our hats off to Craig Glenday, editor-in-chief of the Guinness Book of World Records. Craig battled through gale force winds and storms to get to Wick. After 50 hours, with many detours, he arrived in Wick and declared a new world record an hour later!

Our No 1 Bistro is the only address on Ebenezer Place but at 6ft 9 inches there is no room for another.

Alexander Sinclair returned from America, after having made his fortune, and built Mackays Hotel in 1883. The Council of that day instructed him to put a name on the short end of the building as they deemed it a street. One of Mr Sinclair’s descendants still lives in the town. Ebenezer Place then appeared in the town’s records from 1887.

Robert Louis Stevenson, who spent some time in Wick while his father built the new breakwater in the bay, included a reference to Ebenezer Place in his book ‘ Treasure Island’.  When you read Treasure Island note the reference to the 5 hand way which is represented by Union Street, River Street, Bridge Street, Station Road and The Cliff.