This guide has been produced by www.thewhitbyguide.co.uk and is free for public use. It is not for re-sale. History of Whitby The Founding of Whitby Whitby Abbey Whitby’s Royal Indian Connection Whitby Jet and the Fossil Coast Whitby is consistently voted as one Mythical Whitby of the UK’s top seaside destinations Dracula and Bram Stoker for holidaymakers. With its year Smugglers Tales round season, jam packed events, The Secrets of St Mary’s and rich cultural history. It’s easy Churchyard to see why this magical fishing port Whitby at Sea nestled on the edge of the North York Moors continues to attract Whitby’s 'Greenland Whalers’ generations of tourists from the The Great Colliers of Whitby Shipbuilding in Whitby UK and abroad. Whitby Shipwrecks Whitby Fishing Want to read more from us? Visit www.thewhitbyguide.co.uk Famous People of Whitby Religious Folk Sea Captains and Explorers Literary Whitby Whitby on Film Whitby Today Cosmic Whitby Whitby Walks Cultural Whitby Whitby Landmarks Whitby Attractions Shopping in Whitby Whitby Restaurant Pubs in Whitby Did you know Whitby is the UK's top staycation destination? It is famous for Jet jewellery which was favoured by Queen Victoria and is still handmade on Church Street. Whitby Goth Weekend is the world's most famous Goth celebration. It is not to be missed! Trenchers of Whitby has been voted the UK’s best fish and chip shop. Everyone has their favourite though. One of the best Whitby is the setting for the novel Dracula by Brwaamy sS ttoo kgetr aand inspiration to authors, Elizabeth Gaskell, Charlesc lDeaicrk peinctsu, raen odf Lewis Carroll. your dream It was the British capital of whaling during the 18th century. Whitby was an iconic coal shipping port during thhoem 1e9 itsh t ocentury. It was also a vibrant fishing community during twheri 2te0 dthow cne natury. A Holy place in the early English Church; site ofl itshte o f iyrsotu Srynod of Whitby - decided the settlement date of Easteird ceealel fberaattuiroenss. An important English Heritage site: Whitby Abbey is one of the UK’s most iconic Norman Benedictine ruins. Famously home to Captain James Cook, British explorer, Navigator, Cartographer, and Captain in the British Royal Navy, famed for his discovery of Australia. With towering cliffs soaring high on the ancient East Side and dramatic landscapes ushering in the modern West Cliff. The town of Whitby has a great legacy steeped in history, culture, and myth. It was once famed for its fishing and whaling industries. There are relics and monuments that commemorate this maritime heritage; the whalebone arch and the statue of Captain Cook stand as reminders of a proud nautical history. Since the Georgian age, Whitby has established itself as a centre for tourism. The attraction of the North York Moors and the beauty of the iconic red pantile roofs glimmering in the summer sun continue to delight tourists from far and wide. Much of the English east coast retains this unique character - red pantiles (from the Dutch dakpan or 'roof pan') were imported from Holland in the seventeenth century. Even on cold, grey, blustery days, these tiles appear to glow with a warmth reminiscent of a long, hot, summer day. One of the best Architecture is a key factor in the lasting charm of Wwahyitsb tyo. gFerto am the ruins of the great medieval Abbey high upon the Eclaesatr C pliicftfu troe tohfe Georgian and Victorian townhouses that line the wesyto suirde d raenadm around Crescent Garden. Whitby is a town that feels like stepping into a home is to fairytale. It is frequently referred to by visitors as 'a happy place'. write down a Whether you go to taste the finest fish and chips in tlhiset laofn ydo uorr to walk the legendary cobbles and up the fabled 199 steps toi dtheael Afebabteuyre. sI.t is a place to seek solace, to forget the troubles of the world, and to escape to a mythical age of explorers, smugglers, and saints. As far back as the 6th century, Whitby may have been known as Streonaeshalch; which could mean ‘fort bay’ or tower bay’; it could also be that it meant ‘Streonas settlement’. Many B&Bs and private properties boast this name and those with a good handle on geography will know that the famous military base north of York is called Strenshall. Whitby comes from an Old Norse word: Hwitebi, which means ‘white settlement’. The name Whitby came into use in the 12th century. The story of how Whitby came to be known as Whitby is perhaps best told through the tales of the Venerable Bede, a 7th century Benedictine monk. According to the chronicles of Bede, the story goes that Northumbria was divided into two kingdoms: Deira and Bernicia. In AD 604 the two kingdoms were united by Aethelfrith and as such enjoyed a great period of peace - an impressive achievement for the first King of Northumbria. It was only in the mid-7th century that things became chaotic when Deira was ruled by individual kings: Oswui of Bernicia and Oswine of Deira. An important milestone that shaped Whitby is a bloody tale of battle, betrayal, and bribery. King Oswui had King Oswine killed to place his own man, Aethelwald, on the throne, a ‘puppet’ monarch that would act on behalf of the power-crazed Oswui. Just usual business for a bloodthirsty ruler of the 7th century. Except the plan failed. First, Aethelwald defected to join King Penda and the Mercians, a great rival of King Oswui. Penda and thirty warlords advanced on the army of Oswui at Urbs Iudeu. In an attempt to divert a huge battle and probable defeat, in exchange for peace, Oswui offered Penda treasure - he declined. Penda remained determined to exterminate Oswui’s people ‘from the highest to the lowest’. What happens next is uncertain but it seems that a deal is struck whereby Oswui surrenders his son, Ecgfrith, as hostage, and Penda and his army retreat to Mercia. The Venerable Bede writes that at River Winwaed, Penda’s army was ambushed by Oswui and his army. The Battle of Winwaed saw Penda decapitated and his army defeated in a smart tactical move by Oswui to press a geographical advantage at the river which saw ‘many more drowned in the flight than destroyed by the sword’. Aethelwald the traitor stood aside ready to realign his loyalties after the battle. Cadafael ap Cynfeddw of Gwynedd deserted Penda and became forever known as ‘Cadomedd’ meaning ‘Battle-Shirker’. Oswui’s victory over the Mercian King marked the end of Anglo-Saxon paganism, opening the door for what came next and defining moment for what would become Whitby. According to legend, before the battle, Oswui prayed to God for victory and promised his daughter would become a nun and to grant twelve estates to the construction of monasteries in the event of his success. Victorious, true to his word, his gifted six estates in Bernicia and six in Deira. His daughter joined the Abbess Hilda at Heruteu monastery (Hartlepool). Two years later, in AD 657, St Hilda founded another monastery at Streonaeshalch. This was the birth of Whitby and the founding of the iconic Abbey on the East Cliff. The view of the Abbey high upon the East Cliff exposed to the North Sea has become one of the iconic landscapes of Yorkshire, known throughout the world and photographed regularly. The founding of Whitby Abbey on the East Cliff was a tribute of thanksgiving to God by King Oswui of Northumbria after defeating the Penda, the pagan King of Mercia. Royal Princess Hild founded the 'double monastery' in the Anglo- Saxon style to be used by both men and women. The Abbey became a centre of learning, a renowned nunnery and burial place for the royal family of Deira. It is through the contribution of Caedmon who is remembered at the Abbey and at St Mary's Churchyard with a cross, that Whitby lays claim to a literary first. Caedmon was the first English poet and Whitby the birthplace of English literature. The first Synod of Whitby took place to establish the date of Easter. The story goes that in a toss up between the Ionan practice followed by Irish monks and the Roman tradition favoured by Rome, the decision was settled by Oswui. King Oswui asked both sides if they agreed that St Peter had been handed the keys to the kingdom of Heaven by Christ and pronounced as 'the rock' on which the church would be built. Reasoning that St Peter was the highest authority in the Church it was conceded that the Roman tradition be kept. Easter was fixed to be held on a Sunday, the day of Resurrection. This first incarnation of the Abbey under St Hilda lasted 200 years. At this time the North-East of England was invaded by the Danes, or as they are more commonly known - Vikings! The invasion of the Danes wrought great destruction across the region and led to the fall of the Abbey. For the next 200 years, the Abbey was derelict, deserted, and destroyed by the ravages of time. The next incarnation of the Abbey was in the 11th century shortly after the Norman Conquest. It is these ruins that remain today. The story goes that a Norman knight travelled to England with William the Conquerer. After witnessing many bloody battles to defeat the rebellious Anglo-Saxon lords in the north of the country, he became a monk. Reinfrid entered the monastic life at Evesham in Worcestershire then later journeyed to Jarrow, a great religious centre in the north of England.