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The beach at Whitby from the West Cliff. |
Between 1753 and 1833 Whitby was a busy whaling port supporting 55 sailing boats dedicated to whaling. During this period over 25,000 seals, 55 polar bears and 2761 whales were brought back to Whitby. The main quarry of the whaling ships was the Greenland Right Whale (typical length 60 feet and adult weight between 30 and 80 tonnes. There's been a whale bone arch at this location for as long as I can recall. I thought I'd read that when the last set were to be replaced they were going to be replaced by a synthetic set. So I was suprised to find that the current ones are the Lower Jawbone of a Bowhead whale (Greenland Right Whale) and were presented to the town by the people of Anchorage, Alaska in April 2002. I just hope that it had died of old age! Seen between the whalebones on the skyline is St Mary's church and behind that is Whitby Abbey. |
The largest tonnage landed at Whitby was by William Scoresby (Senior). His was also the inventor of a boats "crow's nest" lookout. |
The famous world explorer Captain James Cook (pictured left) moved to Whitby in 1747 to become an apprentice. This is where his sense of adventure and travel was fostered. I've featured a couple of my earlier walks with a James Cook theme, firstly at Staithes. Then at Great Ayton. My photograph doesn't really do him justice. On closer inspection I see that the seagulls don't show him much respect either. |
The river Esk meets the north sea. The bridge seperates the east and west sides of the town. |
Looking across to the east side of Whitby. |
Thinking of Capt. Cook's explorations reminded me of a popular folk song "Bound for South Australia". Thanks to the web site of Roger McGiunn you can read the songs words and also download an mp3 of him singing it. It seems it was a favourite of the sailors who worked the clipper ships for wool traders between Australia and London. The way I read it the composer, an Australian, is leaving (London I think) to go back to south Australia and he's sorry about leaving a Miss Nancy Blair behind. I bet he wouldn't have been half as bothered if it had been a certain Cherie Blair he'd been leaving! |
I'm over on the east side of the town now and the narrow streets are as busy as usual with residents and tourists. All enjoying today's sunshine. |
Today's Walk: 19th July 2006. For me a walk around the historic town of Whitby is always a pleasure and today the good summer weather made it even better. I parked in a side street off the West Cliff area and walked across the town up to Whitby Abbey then back along the beach. Weather: Very warm, hazy sunshine. |
Several shops sell the black coloured mineral 'Whitby Jet' |
This photograph is taken at the bottom of the famous 199 steps that lead up to St. Mary's Church and Whitby Abbey. Whitby is well known for it's links with the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker. Part of the novel is based in Whitby and Stoker lived here for a while. Because of this link Whitby is a great draw for Goths. |
This whalebone arch commemorates Whitby's past links with the whaling industry. |
I normally run up these steps three at a time right to the top , but today I thought I'd stop part way up and show you the view looking down. (I'm lying of course :-) I couldn't climb up them quickly even if Dracula himself was chasing me.) |
The parish church of St Mary. It was this churchyard that gave Stoker the inspiration for Dracula. |
There are great views of the harbour from the church. The inside of the church is well worth visiting. Note the Saxon baby's coffin on the right. This link takes you to information on Saxon Whitby |
The small sign says "Prayer and Peace in the Sanctury" and this couple appear to be enjoying the peace away from the bustle of the town below. So am I. |
How's your knowledge of Old English words? |
Looking over to the harbour entrance from the graveyard. Could this be Captain Cook back from a trip around the world? We'll find out later. Now I'm off for a walk around the perimiter of Whitby Abbey..... |
The atmospheric ruins of Whitby Abbey in silhouette. |
The Abbey as it is today. The people on the right give you an idea of the building's size. |
An artists impression of how Whitby Abbey looked before 1540 when it was destroyed by the troops of Henry V111 during The Dissolution. For greed as much as wanting to curb the power of the church. |
Back down from the Abbey I take this photograph of the west side of the harbour from the bridge. |
Are these people in the queue for the well known and much praised fish and chips at the Magpie cafe? This summer there's been so many hungry would be customers waiting outside that the local police have threatened to issue them with fixed penalty fines for obstruction of the road! Never thought I'd see the day you'd get a fine for "battering" fish. (think about it there's a joke there somewhere).................. |
...instead I find a tea stand and enjoy my cuppa as I look over the harbour wall. |
Ah, that boat again. Not Captain Cook at all but a replica of his ship (albeit a motor powered version) which takes trippers on short trips along the coast. |
On the beach there's some serious work going on at this fast developing 'sand village'. |
Brightly coloured beach huts for daily hire come complete with electricity points and plentiful water points nearby where I thankfully refill my water bottle. Notice the very sensible senior citizen who has found a pleasant shaded spot. |
I'm almost back to my starting point now, so that's the end of this walk. I hope you enjoyed all that fresh sea air, I certainly did. You did? Good because we're going to be at the coast again next time, but in Scotland. The area we'll explore became quite famous in the 1960's when a book by Gavin Maxwell was published. I remember reading it at school and was enthralled by it - "Ring of Bright Water". It was later turned into a film although the real location was not used. Anyway before you see my photographs I thought you may like to read or re-read the book. So dust off your old copy, get a copy out of the library or perhaps bag a second hand bargain here. |
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The first monastry here was founded in 657 AD and abandoned in 867AD after it was attacked by the Vikings. It was refounded in 1078. |