The building was constructed in 1834 as the village lock-up, for the temporary detention of people.
The lock-up fell out of use in the 1890s, after a police station was constructed in nearby Filey.
[3] The building is constructed of blue and pink brick with stone dressings and a hipped slate roof.
In the centre are two segmental-arched doorways of gauged brick, divided by a pier with a stone impost block, and there is a quoin to each outer jamb.
Inside, it is divided into two cells, in order that two people involved in a fight could be separated.