The name is supposed to be derived from Hilda's Well.  Hilda was a member of one of the local "well off" families.  As I remember she started at Hartlepool and later moved to set up the Abbey at Whitby and was in charge there when they had the Synod of Whitby in 664.  From this the church of the north part of Britain came under the influence of Rome for about 900 years.  

The photo below I have extracted from the excellent book by Tom Scott Burns and Martin Rigg, Round and About The North Yorkshire Moors Vol II, page 60 in which it says "Here in the photograph at Hinderwell church yard at the turn of the century, we see Mrs Lizzie Hodgson pumping her daily ration of spring water into a bucket.  The lady looking on with her bucket is another unrelated Mrs Lizzie Hodgson.  The old gentleman carrying the yoke is John Gray, with Mrs Hannah Trattles , of Gate House about to pass him.  The two small boys half hidden in the grass are Bob Billam and Joe Dawson, and the two little girls near the church are Annie Lyth (who moved to Staithes) and Mabel Wheatherill.  ~~ The pump was installed before 1900, and dismantled in 1912 when the well was restored by Hilda Palmer, of Grinkle Park."

In June 2002 I was in Hinderwell and took the photo below from roughly the same point.  

The inscription is "St HILDA'S WELL restored by Hilda Palmer of Grinkle Park 1912".  

So much for the general interest.  My reason for visiting Hinderwell was that some time back my cousin Dave HOGGARTH (currently of Calgary) sent me a picture of our Grandad's Sister Beulah Allin HOGGARTH outside her Teashop in Hinderwell.  I remember my mother saying she ran a Teashop or Teagardens and that she was helped out by her father (Allin HOGGARTH and maybe her Mother Eliza Jane BOWERS).  

 That is Beulah in front of the shop.  I don't think we know who the dog is.  I've recently found in the indexes the record of the death of Beulah Allin PLANT, 1995, Whitby District, age 88 birth date 15 July 1907 - so only just missed Beulah.  If she had any children - please get in touch.  

In June 2002 I stopped at Hinderwell and took photos of anything which may been a shop.  I did not have the old photo with me so it was only when I got home that I was able to see a match with the photo above.  The shop is on the right hand side as you travel toward Whitby, about half way through the village.  Though the road is the A174 and quite busy that did not stop this farmer moving his sheep.  

If he'd had a dog he'd not have had to run so much.  The quad bike in front of the sheep is about level with what was Beulah's shop.  

Also on the list for things to do In Hinderwell was to re-locate the grave of Allin HOGGARTH (1st) which my brother Allin HOGGARTH (3rd) had found some years back.  

Some of the graveyard is overgrown and, though I had seen it before it took some time to locate it. 

The place to go is right to the top left, which I'd been missing out thinking it was too new.  This shows the grave in the centre of the picture so the future visitors can find it easier.  

"Loving Memories of Eliza Jane HOGGARTH died May 13th 1938 aged 64 years.  Also Allin HOGGARTH husband of above died June 25th 1940 aged 82 years."   

The other little mystery related to Hinderwell is where this "4 Generations" photo was taken.  The "when" is thought to be 1935 which is when the baby (Margaret) is thought to have been born.  Left to right is: Reg HOGGARTH (son of Allin 2nd), Beulah Allin HOGGARTH (daughter of Allin 1st), Joe the taxi driver, Allin HOGGARTH (1st), Allin HOGGARTH (son of Allin 1st), Allen Robert Stephenson HOGGARTH (son of Allin 1st), Margaret )daughter of Allen), probably Ethel HOGGARTH nee CHAMBERS (wife of Allen), George Henry HOGGARTH (son of Allin 2nd).  Photo taken by Ron, the other son of Allin 2nd. 

At this point I got some help from Ian HARRISON who lives in Hinderwell.  Ian wrote: 

"The photograph of the 4 generations was taken at Beulah house.  Sadly this house is no longer here.  Beulah house was located behind the hair dressers (shown on a picture on your web site).  We have got a photograph of Beulah house before it was rebuilt.  (Waiting for Ian to send it).  
At some point Beulah house and a bakery used to be owned by a Mrs Plant.  It was used for dances and wedding receptions.  
I have also found out that that there was a donkey named Beulah that is buried in the garden of the re-built house.  
We are going to try and speak to a lady who was also related to the Hoggarth's to see if she has any memories of them."  

Update February 2007 - In 1938 (3rd quarter) Beulah married a chap called George D PLANT who might be the man who I described above as "Joe the taxi driver".  Beulah died in the third quarter of 1995 and from a distant cousin I have an old note that Beulah had one daughter.