The old seaport of Whitby Yorkshire is situated on the North East Coast and is maybe one of the most gorgeous and picturesque natural harbours of North Yorkshire.
It is essentially a town of two parts divided by the River Esk. Its natural geographic situation has shaped both its historical and market past, and continues to work on its culture to the present day.
Downton Abbey
The East Side of Whitby Yorkshire is the oldest of the two sides. The Abbey built from 656 Ad was the founding point for the town and on the headland near the Abbey there are indications of an earlier Roman lighthouse and small settlement., verily the early Saxon name for Whitby was 'Streonshal' meaning (Lighthouse Bay). Prominent down the 199 steps from the Abbey to Church road (formerly Kirkgate Ad 1318) there are cobbled streets and many cottages and houses dating from the 1600's. Dwellings have even been documented at the foot of the 199 steps as early as 1370!
The market Place, dating back to 1640, is a spirited place with markets held on a Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday, with a Farmer's market on a Thursday (please check days as there is a discrepancy throughout the year). The old cobbled streets stretch from the lowest of the Abbey Steps along Church Street, along Sandgate and to the north along Henrietta Street.
Henrietta road is only a short road in relation to its former glory in 1787 when upward of 1,000 residents lived there. A landslip in 1787, and a succession of supplementary landslips have led to its present length. At the northern end of the road is Fortunes Kipper House, dating from 1872, founded by William Fortune. The kippers are smoked over oak and beech fires to give their distinctive taste and colour. Many of the cottages are now holiday lets but a number of local Whitby people are still resident. A path from the end of this road leads to the East Pier by means of a new concrete walkway.
Around the market Place there are a number of shops and cafes. The Shambles, the old Burberrys Factory, is a social house with an indoor market underneath which sells a blend of clothing and arts and crafts. Here too are the social conveniences. Alongside the Shambles is the access to the Whitby Friendship Amateur Rowing Club. The Fishermans Amateur Rowing Club can be accessed here also at low tide.
Leading off the market Place is Sandgate (so called because it leads to and borders on the east sands), a bustling narrow road with tourist shops, fresh seafood shop, old English sweet shop, cafe, bakery and photographers. Whitby jet, made fashionable by Queen Victoria, who wore it in mourning of her beloved Prince Albert (died 1861) has been carved since the bronze age. It is formed by fossilized monkey puzzle trees. An exhibition of the Victorian carved jet can be found in the museum in Pannett Park. The Whitby Jet patrimony centre has a workshop which was found sealed in an old house in Whitby and removed and rehoused.
Church road has an spectacular, number of alleyways and yards which, in the past, enabled smuggling gangs and escape routes from the customs men and press gangs in times gone by. Look at the strange names!! Nowadays these yards house a number of shops, restaurants and craftware places. The old Wesley Hall is now home to a wool and craft shop.
Steeped in history, this area of Whitby Yorkshire is very beloved with tourists and hence the number of cafes, restaurants and gift shops. There are also a number of social houses
Grape Lane Prominent off Bridge road is maybe one of the most aged streets. In 1595 there were houses on both sides of the narrow road and it existed even before the dissolution of the Abbey. Along here is the Captain Cook museum, cafes, jewellery shops, bookshops, antiques and a children's clothing shop.
Whitby West Cliff top is dominated by Hotels, guest houses, holiday chamber and tourist attractions. Bram Stoker stayed at a guest house in Royal Crescent in the late 1890's, and drew his inspiration for Dracula from Whitby Yorkshire and the Abbey. verily in the book of Dracula, he came ashore in the form of a black dog shipwrecked off the coast of Whitby Yorkshire. There is a Dracula society and a large people of Goths who trip to Whitby for a few days each April and November, for Whitby Goth Weekends. They dress in period costume as they stroll the town and it seems almost that Whitby is back in the 'olden days'.
The Royal Hotel was built at the top of the Khyber Pass and has panoramic views over the North Sea, the piers, the East Cliff and Abbey and westwards along to Sandsend. Opposite the Royal, is the renowned Whale Bone Arch, which was originally erected in 1853 as at that time Whitby Yorkshire was an Prominent Whaling town. The present bones are from Alaska and supplanted the former in 2003. To the left of the Whale Bone Arch is the bronze statue of Captain James Cook standing over 6 feet. In front of the Royal Hotel and facing north are the sunken gardens sheltered somewhat by the winds off the North Sea. It is a lovely place to sit and relax.
There is an outdoor paddling pool with social conveniences close by, a new skateboarding area, Whitby Wizard (a hands-on science centre for children), bumper boats, trampolines, pitch and putt, crazy golf and a tourist shop selling buckets and spades, ice-cream etc. The large west cliff car park is near the Whitby free time Centre. The centre has a swimming pool, tennis courts, a gymnasium and badminton court.
The Spa Pavilion is a beloved venue for exhibitions, dances, pantomimes, amateur dramatics, seaside collection shows etc. It has a licensed bar, cafe and car park. There is the older Victorian construction where most of the entertainment shows are held, the Northern Lights Suite, the Undercroft and the Crystal Lounge cafe where the spectacular sea and cliff views can be viewed from floor to ceiling glass windows. During the summer months there are extra children's events together with mini discos and magic shows.
.During the early summer months of May and June when the sun sets it appears to set in the sea, a most spectacular site. In reality it sets behind the land near Sunderland/Newcastle.
Winding steep paths take you down to the lovely sandy beach with its brightly coloured painted beach huts. There are two beaches, one each side of the River Esk. Tate Hill beach is on the east side in the middle of Tate Hill pier and the larger East Pier. It is a small sheltered, soft sandy beach that both visitors and residents can enjoy throughout the year be it whether picnics, barbecues, or bathing and beach activities. Dogs are allowed on this beach all year round.
The larger West Cliff beach has almost 2 miles of sand and stretches from the pier, past the colourful beachhuts and along to Upgang. In the summer months there are lifeguards in attendance. Deckchairs and windbreaks are available to hire from the slipway near the west pier. It is a lovely stretch of beach where families can play, paddle, bathe, swim, get shells, play ballgames, build sandcastles and fly kites, just to mention a few activities. Donkey rides are a favourite with the children. Dogs are restricted from the 1st May to the 30th September. When using the beaches it is wise to take observation of the tide tables especially when walking along to Sandsend as the tides reach the cliffs and there is a danger of being cut off. The beach can also be accessed from the West cliff down long zigzag paths, or, in the season, there is a cliff lift, first opened in 1931, which is available from the end of April to the end of September.
For the discerning visitor there are plenty of activities to occupy both adults and children alike. A sedate walk along the harbour and the quaint cobbled streets or a strenuous hike up the Abbey steps to join the Cleveland National Trail. How about something even more energetic?, a full or part day fishing trip, mountain bike trailing, swimming, tennis or golf? For those wishing for a more diplomatic source of entertainment, there is the historical side of Whitby, the Abbey and St. Mary's Church, the Captain Cook museum followed by a trip to the Pannett Park Museum to learn even more about this renowned explorer.
There are a number of delight craft ready to take visitors for a trip out to sea together with a replica of Captain Cook's ship The Endeavour, an old Lifeboat, a jet speedboat and a number of larger craft with facilities for drinking and dining. Any spare change? Then try the amusement arcades and bingo, down along the pier, maybe a visit to a fortune teller!
Whatever the choice, Whitby Yorkshire can offer a wide collection of activities or maybe tranquility. The choice is yours.
Whitby Yorkshire, the Gem of the North Yorkshire Coast
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