Whitby 169107 224663228 2008-07-09T21:34:19Z 72.137.75.3 {{otheruses}} {{infobox UK place |country = England |official_name= Whitby |latitude = 54.4858 |longitude = -0.6206 |civil_parish = Whitby |population = 13,594 ([[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 census]])<ref name="2001 census"/> |shire_district = [[Scarborough (borough)|Scarborough]] |region = Yorkshire and the Humber |shire_county = [[North Yorkshire]] |constituency_westminster = [[Scarborough and Whitby (UK Parliament constituency)|Scarborough and Whitby]] |post_town = WHITBY |postcode_district = YO21, YO22 |postcode_area = YO |dial_code = 01947 |os_grid_reference = NZ893109 |static_image = [[Image:Whitby.jpg|200px]] |static_image_caption = <small>Whitby on the [[River Esk, North Yorkshire|River Esk]]</small> |static_image_2 = [[Image:Whitby Town Arms.png|100px|Whitby Town Arms]] |static_image_2_caption = <small>Arms of Whitby Town Council</small> }} '''Whitby''' is an historic town and [[civil parish]] in the [[Scarborough (borough)|Scarborough]] district of [[North Yorkshire]] on the north-east coast of [[England]]. Nowadays it is a [[fishing port]] and tourist destination. It is situated {{convert|47|mi|km|}} from [[York]], at the mouth of the [[River Esk, North Yorkshire|River Esk]] and spreads up the steep sides of the narrow valley carved out by the river's course. At this point the coast curves round, so the town faces more north than east. According to the [[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 UK census]], Whitby parish had a population of 13,594.<ref name="2001 census">{{cite web |url = http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=798227&c=whitby&d=16&e=15&g=476832&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1215427208070&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779 |title = 2001 Census: Key Statistics: Parish Headcounts: Area: Whitby CP (Parish) |accessdate = 2008-07-07 |work = Neighbourhood Statistics |publisher = [[Office for National Statistics]] }}</ref> ==History== {{fishing community topics}} Many interesting fossils have been found in the Whitby area including entire skeletons of [[pterosaur|pterodactyls]]. Whitby is known for its well preserved [[ammonite]] [[fossil]]s, which can sometimes be found on the seashore, or purchased from any number of stalls or shops in the town. ===Saxon Whitby=== In about 657, [[Oswiu of Northumbria|Oswiu or Oswy]], the Christian king of [[Northumbria]], fulfilled a vow by founding a monastery there. Faced in 655 with the mighty army of [[Penda of Mercia|Penda]], the [[Paganism|pagan]] king of [[Mercia]], which greatly outnumbered his own, Oswiu asked God to grant him victory, promising to consecrate his infant daughter Ælflæda to the service of God and to give land to found monasteries. Penda and most of his nobles were killed in the battle. Oswiu honoured his pledges by granting 12 small estates of 10 hides each in various places for monasteries to be built. One of them was at ''Streanæshealh'', later known as [[Whitby Abbey]]. This was the house that Ælflæda herself entered as a pupil and of which she later became abbess.<ref>Bede, ''The Ecclesiastical History of the English People'', ed. J. McClure and R. Collins (Oxford University Press 1994), pp. 150-151.</ref> The first abbess was [[Hilda of Whitby|Hilda]], a remarkable figure, later venerated as a saint. Under her influence, Whitby became a centre of learning, and the poetry of [[Cædmon]] is amongst the earliest examples of [[Anglo-Saxon literature]]. It was the leading royal nunnery of [[Deira (kingdom)|Deira]], and the burial-place of its royal family. The [[Synod of Whitby]], in 664, established the [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman]] date of [[Easter]] in Northumbria at the expense of the [[Celtic Church|Celtic]] one, an important and influential decision.<ref>''The Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Anglo-Saxon England'' ed. Michael Lapidge ''et al'' (Blackwell 1999), pp.155, 472.</ref> In [[867]], [[Denmark|Danish]] [[Viking]]s landed two miles west of Whitby at [[Raven's Hill]], and moved on to attack the settlement and to destroy the monastery. It was only after the [[Norman Conquest]] of 1066 that [[William de Percy]] ordered that the monastery be refounded (1078), dedicating it to St Peter and St Hilda. Later it became Presteby (meaning ''the habitation of Priests'' in [[Old Norse]]) then Hwytby; next Whiteby, (meaning the "white settlement" in [[Old Norse]], probably from the colour of the houses) and finally Whitby. ===Late Medieval and Tudor period=== According to Langdale's ''Yorkshire Dictionary'' (1822) and Baine's ''Directory of the County of York'' (1823), even up to the reign of [[Elizabeth I of England|Elizabeth I]] Whitby was little more than a small fishing port. In 1540, it had consisted of only around twenty to thirty houses and had a population of about two hundred inhabitants. In that year [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]] dissolved the monasteries, including Whitby Abbey. At the end of the 16th century, [[Thomas Chaloner (naturalist)|Thomas Chaloner]] of York travelled to [[Italy]] and visited the [[alum]] works in the [[Papal States]]. He recognised that the rock from which the alum was made was identical to that abundant in several areas in and around his [[Guisborough]] estate in North Yorkshire. Alum was a very important product at that time, used internationally, in curing [[leather]], fixing dyed cloths and for medicinal uses. Up to this period the [[Vatican City|Vatican]] had maintained a virtual monopoly on the production and sale of the product. Chaloner secretly brought some of the Pope's workmen to England, and over the following years developed a thriving alum industry in Yorkshire. (It is said that this development significantly lowered the international price of alum, impacting the profitability of a traditional source of revenue for the Vatican, and that Chaloner was [[Excommunication|excommunicated]]). ===Whitby Abbey and St Mary's Church=== [[Image:Whitby abbey.jpg|right|200px|thumb|left|Whitby Abbey from pond]] [[Image:Whitby yorkshire UK 2.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Whitby Abbey from St. Mary's Churchyard]] Over the centuries, the town spread both inland and onto the West Cliff, whilst the East Cliff (sometimes called the Haggerlythe) remains dominated by the ruins of [[Whitby Abbey]] and St Mary's Church. It is quite a distance to reach the East Cliff by road, the alternative being to climb the 199 steps, which are famed enough that many who make the climb can be heard counting on the way up. 2005 saw the completion of the first major restoration of the 199 steps since the 19th century, when they were changed from wooden "stairs" to stone steps. In an attempt to raise funds, each step was sponsored for £1,000 by locals and visitors alike. The culmination of this project was a service at St Mary's Church on Sunday [[1 October]] [[2005]]. To commemorate the occasion, each step features a page dedicated to its sponsor in a book that is currently available, on request, at the church. ===Modern history - since 1605=== [[Image:Whitby Bay UK.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Whitby, showing St Mary's Church in distance.]] [[Image:Whitby piers.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Whitby's twin piers]] Among the resulting alum producing centres, several were established close to Whitby, including that near Sandsend (now [[Sandsend Ness]]), just three miles from the town, in 1615. With this, two new, rapidly growing activities were promoted in the port of Whitby, the transport of the alum itself and that of the coal necessary for its production. With this, the town's wealth increased and Whitby began to grow, extending its activities to include [[shipbuilding]], using the local [[oak]] as raw material. Taxes on imports entering via the port raised the necessary finance to improve and extend the town's twin piers, thereby improving the harbour and permitting further increases in trade. In 1753 the first [[whaling]] ship set sail from Whitby to [[Greenland]]. This initiated a new phase in the town's development, and by 1795 Whitby had become a major centre for the [[whaling]] industry. Whitby was the site of the ''[[Rohilla Steamship|Rohilla]]'' disaster of [[30 October]], [[1914]], when the hospital ship ''Rohilla'' was sunk (either by running aground, or hitting a mine; accounts differ) within sight of shore just off Whitby. Eighty-five people lost their lives in the disaster; most of them are buried in the [[churchyard]] at Whitby. Also in 1914, Whitby was shelled by [[Germany|German]] [[battlecruiser]]s [[SMS Von der Tann|''Von der Tann'']] and [[SMS Derfflinger|''Derfflinger'']], aiming for the signal post on the end of the headland. [[Scarborough, North Yorkshire|Scarborough]] and [[Hartlepool]] were also attacked. Whitby Abbey sustained considerable damage during the attack. ==Present day Whitby== [[Image:Rj whitby.JPG|right|thumb|200px|Aerial photo showing the River Esk flowing into the North Sea at Whitby]] [[Image:Whitby cliff.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Whitby east cliff]] The modern Port of Whitby, strategically placed for shipping to [[Europe]], with very good proximity to the [[Scandinavia]]n countries, is capable of handling a wide range of cargoes, including grain, steel products, timber and [[potash]]. Vessels of up to 3,000 tonnes DWT are received on a routine basis at the Wharf, which has the capability of loading/unloading two ships simultaneously. {{convert|54000|sqft|m2}} of dock space is currently (2004) allocated for storage of all-weather cargo and a further {{convert|17000|sqft|m2}} of warehouse space is reserved for weather-critical goods storage. The town is served by [[Whitby railway station]] which forms the terminus of the [[Esk Valley Line]] from [[Middlesbrough]], formerly the northern terminus of the Whitby, [[Pickering, North Yorkshire|Pickering]] and [[York]] line. Whitby is also served by the [[Yorkshire Coastliner]] bus line, which can take travellers to and from [[Leeds]], [[Tadcaster]], [[York]], [[Scarborough, North Yorkshire|Scarborough]], [[Bridlington]], [[Pickering, North Yorkshire|Pickering]], [[Malton, North Yorkshire|Malton]] and many more towns in [[Yorkshire]]. The town was awarded "Best Seaside Resort 2006", by ''[[Which?|Which? Holiday]]'' magazine. The town's college, Whitby [[Community College]] has recently expanded with a brand new design and technology, however it lost its speciality status due to being placed under special measures, this has now been rescinded as of March 2007. Whitby has a [[fish market]] on the quayside, which is not set to any particular day of the week, instead taking place when the need arises.<ref>[http://www.yorkshireports.co.uk/content/whitby/fishing.aspx Whitby - Fishing<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> This ready supply of fresh fish has resulted in an abundance of "[[Chippy|chippies]]" in the town, including the Magpie Cafe which [[Rick Stein]] has described as the best fish and chip shop in Britain. <ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/wine/main.jhtml?xml=/wine/2006/09/23/edjan23.xml Restaurant review, ''Daily Telegraph'', 23 September 2006]</ref> In a campaign led by Whitby's Friends of the Earth group, Whitby is looking to make the exciting and forward-thinking move of becoming one of a growing number of UK towns to be plastic bag-free, instead encouraging the use of re-usable shopping bags made of cotton or other materials. This move is hoped to help preserve the beautiful setting that has made the town so attractive to tourists. ==Local schools== There are several schools within Whitby: {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} Primary schools:<br /> [[St Hilda's Roman Catholic Primary School]]<br /> [[Stakesby Community Primary School]]<br /> [[West Cliff Primary School]]<br /> [[Whitby, Airy Hill Community Primary School]]<br /> [[Whitby, East Whitby Community Primary School]] {{col-2}} Secondary schools:<br /> [[Eskdale School]]<br /> [[Caedmon School]] Community colleges:<br /> [[Whitby Community College]] Independent Schools:<br /> [[Fyling Hall]] School<br /> Official School Website: [[www.fylinghall.org]] {{col-end}} ==West Cliff== [[Image:Schwarzer Trauerschmuck2.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Jet Mourning Jewelry]] West Cliff has its own landmarks — a statue of Captain [[James Cook]], who sailed from the town, and a [[whalebone]] arch, commemorating the once large whaling industry. There is also a new [[science museum]] — [[Whitby Wizard]]. The whalebone arch is the second to stand on this spot; the original (a larger version) is now preserved in Whitby Archives Heritage Centre. By the inner harbour, next to the tourist information office, there is also a statue commemorating [[William Scoresby]], inventor of the [[crow's nest]]. Find more whitby West Cliff Attractions at [http://WhitbyBusinessDirectory.co.nr][[Whitby Online Business Directory]] ==Whitby jet== ''See [[Jet (lignite)]]'' The black [[mineraloid]], [[Jet (lignite)|jet]] is found in the cliffs around Whitby, and has been used since the [[Bronze Age]] to make beads and other [[jewellery]]. The Romans mined jet extensively, and Whitby jet was at the peak of its popularity in the mid-19th century, especially after it was favoured as mourning jewellery by [[Queen Victoria]]. [[Whitby Museum]] holds a large collection on the archaeological and social history of jet. It also displays a “[[Hand of Glory|hand of glory]]”. ==Whitby and literature== [[Image:Whitby yorkshire UK 1.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Whitby from St. Mary's Churchyard]] One unusual feature of Whitby is the [[Dracula]] Museum - a large portion of [[Bram Stoker]]'s famous novel was set in Whitby, describing Dracula's arrival in Britain on a ship washed ashore in the harbour, and how Lucy watched from the churchyard as the sun set over the nearby headland of Kettleness, but did not know how many steps she climbed to get there. Stoker's story incorporated various pieces of Whitby folklore, including the beaching of the [[Russia]]n ship ''Dmitri'', which became the basis of ''Demeter'' in the book. The novel ''[[Caedmon's Song]]'' by [[Peter Robinson (novelist)|Peter Robinson]] plays in Whitby. Whitby also features significantly in the novel ''[[Possession: A Romance|Possession]]'', by [[A. S. Byatt]]. [[Michel Faber]]'s novel, ''The Hundred and Ninety Nine Steps'' is set in Whitby. Whitby appears prominently in ''The Resurrectionists'', by [[Kim Wilkins]]. [[Robin Jarvis]] has written ''The Whitby Witches'', a trilogy of children's fantasy novels set in Whitby, that borrow from bits of local folklore. [[Paul Magrs]]'s series of novels following the neighbouring spinsters 'Brenda and Effie' — ''Never the Bride'', ''Something Borrowed'', ''Conjugal Rites'' — are set almost exclusively in Whitby. == Army Cadets == Whitby Is home to the former Green Howard afiliated Cadet Detachment of A company Yorkshire North And West [[Army Cadet Force]] who due to the merge of the Green Howards now parade under [[The Yorkshire Regiment]] (Yorkshire Warriors,Devils Regiment)The Detachment is located at [[Caedmon School]], Airy Hilland tkes part in a wide range of [[ACF]] activities, including [[Shooting]] at Queen Elizabeth Barracks York (or other camps depending on circumstances) [[Expeditions]]and much much more to find out more visit the New Yorkshire N & W cadet force website be awre the information on location is incorrect due to the movementof the detachment between disbanding and reformingfor more info either visit the detachment or visit www. == Air Cadets == Whitby is also home to 740 (Whitby) [[Squadron]], [[Air Training Corps]]. The squadron is located at [[Caedmon School]], Airy Hill, and takes part in a wide-range of ATC activities, including [[flying]] at [[RAF]] [[Church Fenton]], [[gliding]] at RAF [[RAF Topcliffe|Topcliffe]], and [[shooting]] at [[Whitby Rifle Club]]. The squadron is always recruiting new young people between the ages of 13 and 17 and parades on Mondays and Thursdays between 6:45pm and 9pm. == Events == [http://www.whitbyregatta.co.uk/ Whitby Regatta] occurs once a year for three days in August. Originally a local rowing competition, over the years it has expanded to include events such as a large fair stretching down the pier, police demonstrations, fireworks and military displays - including the spectacle of the [[Red Arrows]], providing the weather is good. [[Rowing]] still forms a major part of the weekend and races span out over three days between the three old rival clubs - Whitby Friendship ARC, Whitby Fishermen's ARC and Scarborough ARC. The races increase in distance as the competing crews grow in age and experience, with the grand finale of the men's senior race on the Monday night, which is rowed from Sandsend to Whitby over a distance of over 4,000 metres. The 2007 senior race was won by Whitby Friendship ARC's senior crew stroked by Adam Young and coxed by Jamie Wassall. The men's junior race was also won by the Friendship with Shaun Hopper, Marc Blackburn, Andrew Grady and James Collinson in the stroke seat. This gave Friendship the 2007 Wilson Cup after being defeated by Scarborough the previous year. Each year, on the eve of [[Ascension Day]], the [[Penny Hedge]] ceremony is performed. For at least the last two decades the town has hosted the [http://www.folkwhitby.co.uk/ Whitby Folk Week], which currently includes around 600 different events in various venues. Whitby also hosts the bi-annual [[Whitby Gothic Weekend]], a festival for members of the [[Goth subculture]]. Whitby Now has been a massive part of the live music scene in Whitby over the last decade or so. Originally thought up by local legend Mark Liddell, the event grows from strength to strength each year. 2007 saw over 15 local bands perform to a sell-out crowd. Bands such as YabbaDabbaDoo, The Merkins and Wasting Charlie really showed what a thriving music scene such a small town as Whitby has. The town has played host to [http://www.musicport.fsnet.co.uk/ Musicport], an annual world music festival, since the late 1990s. From 2008, Musicport will move to [[Bridlington]]. == Whitby photo gallery == <gallery> Image:Whitby_Abbey_and_houses.jpg|Whitby Abbey and houses below Image:WhitbyAbbey01.jpg|Whitby Abbey from opposite headland Image:WhitbyAbbey02.jpg|Whitby Abbey showing [[whalebone]] arch Image:Whitby_Boats.jpg|Boats at Whitby Image:Whitby_Boats_2.jpg|Boats at Whitby Image:Whitby_bark.jpg|Whitby tour boat Image:Captain James Cook statue Whitby.JPG|Statue of [[Captain James Cook]] Image:WhitbyMickle.jpg|Rear of The Shambles at Whitby Image:Whitby Beach.jpg|Whitby Beach from the pier </gallery> == Cities twinned with Whitby == * {{flagicon|United States}} [[Anchorage, Alaska]], [[United States]] * {{flagicon|New Zealand}} [[Porirua]] , [[New Zealand]] * {{flagicon|Falkland Islands}} [[Stanley, Falkland Islands]] * {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Whitby, Ontario]], [[Canada]] * {{flagicon|Tonga}} [[Nukuʻalofa|Nuku{{Okina}}alofa]], [[Tonga]] * {{flagicon|United States}} [[Kauai County, Hawaii]] == See also == * [[Synod of Whitby]] * [[Whitby Town F.C.]] * [[Whitby Gazette]] * [[Esk Valley Line]] == Further reading == * Malcolm Barker - ''Essence of Whitby'' (2006) ISBN 1-90508-011-5 * Andrew White - ''A History of Whitby'' (2004) ISBN 1-86077-306-0 * Rosalin Barker - ''The Book Of Whitby'' (1990) ISBN 0 86023 462 2 * Colin Waters - ''Whitby, A Pictorial History'' (1992) ISBN 0 85033 848 4 * Colin Waters - ''A History of Whitby's Pubs, Inns and Taverns'' (1992) ISBN 0 95192 380 3 * Cordelia Stamp - ''Whitby Pictorial Memories'' (2006) ISBN 1 85937 491 3 * Colin Waters - ''Whitby Then and Now'' (2004) ISBN 0 75243 301 6 * Colin Platt - ''Whitby Abbey'' (1985) ISBN 1 85074 456 4 ==References== <!-- ---------------------------------------------------------- See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes for a discussion of different citation methods and how to generate footnotes using the <ref>, </ref> and <reference /> tags ----------------------------------------------------------- --> <div class="references-small"> {{reflist}} </div> ==External links== ;History * [http://www.whitbymuseum.org.uk Whitby Museum] * [http://www.whitbyarchives.org.uk Whitby Archives Heritage Centre] * [http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/NRY/Whitby/WhitbyHistory.html Whitby History at GENUKI] * [http://mdfs.net/Docs/Books/YofWhitby/ The Yards of Whitby] * [http://www.whitbyonline.co.uk/pictures-of-whitby/ A collection of 25 photographs of Whitby from 1959] ;Tourism * [http://www.discoveryorkshirecoast.com/whitby-welcome-new.asp Official local government tourism site] * [http://www.whitbyonline.co.uk Whitby Online] Whitby News, Weather, Forum, Photos, Events & Information * [http://www.yorkshirecoastliner.co.uk Yorkshire Coastliner Bus Service] * [http://www.nymr.co.uk/ North Yorkshire Moors Railway] ;Other * [http://www.whitbywebcam.co.uk/ Whitby Web Cam] Live 180 degree high resolution view of Whitby * [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/ram/mappingthetown_20050914.ram Mapping the Town]: the history of Whitby, presented by [[Julian Richards]] ([[BBC Radio 4]]) ([[RealAudio]] format) * [http://www.whitbyseaanglers.co.uk/index.php Whitby Sea Fishing] Whitby Sea Fishing guide by Whitby Sea Anglers Fishing Club * [http://www.bbc.co.uk/tees/ BBC Tees ] - the latest local news, sport, entertainment, features, faith, travel and weather. * [http://www.whitbylifeboat.org.uk/ Whitby RNLI] - The Whitby Lifeboat. {{North Yorkshire}} [[Category:Towns in North Yorkshire]] [[Category:Parishes of North Yorkshire]] [[Category:Seaside resorts in England]] [[Category:Ports and harbours of Yorkshire]] [[Category:Visitor attractions in North Yorkshire]] [[Category:Fishing communities]] [[af:Whitby]] [[de:Whitby]] [[eo:Whitby]] [[nl:Whitby (Engeland)]] [[no:Whitby]] [[ro:Whitby]] [[vo:Whitby (North Yorkshire)]]