Ginnels

Ginnel (plural ginnels) is a narrow pedestrian passageway between or behind buildings, typically found in the United Kingdom. The term is most common in Northern England, especially Yorkshire and Lancashire, and describes a route that provides access from a street to backyards, entrances, or rear alleys without using the main thoroughfare. The origins of the word are uncertain, and spellings have varied over time.

Ginnels are usually very narrow and may be only one person wide. They can be open to the sky or partially covered by upper storeys, with walls that are often close together. Surfaces range from paved or cobbled to asphalt, and lighting is often limited. Some ginnels pass beneath arches or between the backs of terraced houses; others run behind shopfronts or courtyards.

Historically, ginnels served practical purposes in dense urban areas, providing access for residents and service routes for tradespeople. In modern towns, they may still function as public rights of way or as private passageways and entrances. Some ginnels have been preserved as part of local heritage and are included in walking routes or urban regeneration projects.

In popular usage, the concept has equivalents in other regions of the UK, but the term ginnel remains strongly associated with Northern English townscapes. In York, for example, similar passages are sometimes referred to as snickelways.