We had really been looking forward to our time in Whitby - being great fans of Captain Cook of course. Whitby was also where the ship (the John Barry) was built, which carried my rogues of ancestors to Van Diemans Land after they stole some chickens in Wiltshire in 1818. Anyway we were just very keen to spend some time here.
The Wharf - Endeavour Wharf, of course.
Whitby is situated on the east coast of Yorkshire, at the mouth of the River Esk
This fishing port emerged during the Middle ages
and developed important herring and whaling fleets.
In the 18th Century Whitby functioned not just as a port, but also a centre for shipbuilding.
Whitby is very hilly, so we decided to hop on and of Whitby's "Yellow Bus" from the Bandstand at the Pier.
As we arrived Whitby's the scaled replica Bark Endeavour was carrying some tourist's out of the Port.
and we looked up the hill where Captain Cook stands watch over the whole harbour (seagull and all).
The Yellow Bus worked it's way up and around the steep bank, which is commonly called - the Khyber Pass.
One of the lovely houses on Khyber Pass overlooking Whitby
We eventually reached Captain Cook - minus a seagull this time
and got off the bus to have a good look around.
spending quite a bit of time with our favoured Capitaine.
There are numerous monuments to Captain James Cook in Australia, plus a town - Cooktown on the far north coast of Queensland - we spent some time there in 2006 - and the river there is called - the Endeavour.
Whitby's Endeavour measures nearly 14 metres in length, and 4 metres in width and is approximately 40% of the original ship's size.
Considerable attention to detail has been undertaken throughout her construction in Whitby (Parkol Marine Engineers) to ensure that the ship authentically replicates the many features of the original vessel. Captain Cook's Endeavour was built in Whitby in 1764 as a Coal Carrier, named - Earl of Pembroke. She was bought by the Navy in 1768, refitted and renamed - The Endeavour.
Australia houses the full size replica of the Endeavour at Darling Harbour (below), and she has sailed around the world repeating Captain Cook's circumnavigation.
She has recently completed a 13 month circumnavigation of Australia (8000 nautical miles) - 18 ports in 13 months - leaving Sydney below. She is widely acknowledged as one of the most accurate maritime replicas in the world and she was constructed in Fremantle, Western Australia.
We were fortunate to actually sail on her in Hobart Harbour in February 2007, and have also been on board on a couple of occasions at Darling Harbour - she is magnificent.
Whitby has a stunning beach - it's Coast is known as the "Dinosaur Coast", the Fossil Coast" and the "Jurassic Coast"
Great colourful bathing sheds along the edge of the beach - plus donkey rides for the kids on this same beach.
We climbed back on the "Yellow Bus"
to travel down the steep hill
across the Swing Bridge on the River Esk
to the East Cliff - 57 metres tall
to visit Whitby's magnificent Abbey
This Abbey is a ruined Benedictine abbey overlooking the North Sea
It was originally founded in 657 AD by the Saxon King of Northumbria, Lady Hilda was appointed as the Abbess of the double monestry of Benedictine monks and nuns.
Whitby Abbey was abandoned in 867 AD after a Viking attack.
The ruins that remain are the Church of the Benedictine Abbey founded by the Normans and begun in 1220 in the Early English style of Gothic.
In 1540 Whitby Abbey was destroyed by Henry V111, and the Abbey buildings fell into ruins.
The Abbey's west front was hit by German naval shelling in 1914.
Near the abbey ruins are the remains of the Cholemley family mansion, built after Henry VIII suppression of the Abbey
The impressive classical facade now houses an award winning Visitors Centre
It displays many finds from Anglo-saxon, medieval and the Cholmley periods.
Our next stop was the grounds of St. Mary's Church, the tower and basic structure are Norman, from around 1110AD.
It perches upon the high cliff top overlooking Whitby
at the top of the 199 steps back down to Whitby - we chose the Yellow Bus for descent back down!
Just above these steps is Caedmon's Cross, a memorial dedicated to Caedmon, one of the earliest English poets.
The views from the churchyard are spectacular - down to the Harbour
across to Whitby's West side
including it's array of Georgian and Victorian style houses - many which are now B and B's.
The view across to the white delightful "Royal Hotel" on the west side is stunning.
St. Mary's churchyard is filled with aged and weathered tombstones and monuments to sailors, fishermen and lifeboatmen.
There are some marked with skull and crossbones I believe, however as we had done more than our fair share of headstone research over this trip, so we did not check out this graveyard!!
The Brig is happily waiting to be picked up by that Yellow Bus.
This Abbey really does dominate the town of Whitby from above - just superb.
The next mode of transport we decide on from outside the Whitby Yacht Club
is the only three-axle steam bus in the world - built in 1931
She certainly roared up Khyber Pass under steam, and we retravelled back around Whitby in this magnificent old beast.
and her name was Elizabeth!!!
We then decided to walk across Whitby's 104 yr old swing bridge with a 23 metre span that separates the upper and lower harbours.
The streets in the old town are small and very busy, but we took time to check out the Whitby Jet stone and Jewellery from the fossilised remains of the monkey-puzzle tree - found on the cliffs and moors, very nice, and I have certainly bought a sample home with me!.
The old Town Hall is now a cafe
and a popular venue for Whitby's Buskers.
There are just so many restaurants - 'specially featuring fish and chips in Whitby, - we decided on the Magpie Cafe the first day - absolutely superb.
Rick Stein says they make "b..... good fish and chips", and they do, we ate there the next day as well.
We spent quite a bit of time at the Captain Cook Memorial Museum - the 18th century house below belonged to the Walker family, James Cook lodged here 1746-49 when he was apprenticed to Captain John Walker.
The attic room (round window at top) was where James Cook and the other apprentices lodged when ashore.
James Cook was the first to cross the Antarctic Circle and disprove finally the existence of the supposed great Southern Continent .
It was a dull and slightly wet afternoon, but still plenty of water action on the River Esk
and of course the reflections right in front of Captain Cooks lodging
were outstanding in my eyes.
*******
HEARTBEAT
Well as we both love the show Heartbeat, we decided to catch the North Yorkshire Moors Railway to Goathland - the village that is called Aidensfield in the TV Show.
The actual train trip through the different stations and scenery was delightful
This is Goathland/Aidensfield Railway station
plenty of flowers
line the station surrounds
then another train steamed in.
We walked into the village
to Scripps - Funeral Services and Garage
We caught up with the old police car
Then of course we had to go to the "Aidensfield Arms"
for just one english beer for the Brig.
and a glass of wine to keep him company.
We watch this show three times a week
and it does feel good when they are in the Pub in Aidensfield
to know and feel - "we have been there".
Back down to the Station
and met up with the most charming volunteer Station Master
He told us that he bought his own suit - and he is so proud of what he is doing.
Delightful flowers on the station
and of course our very proud Station Master again!
Our train back to Whitby arrives
Trucking back to Whitby
under steam
Lovely Yorkshire scenery
Arriving back in Whitby - river looks mucky,
unfortunately, but after weeks of heavy rain,
all the tannin had run into and coloured the river.
However, the wonderful Abbey ruins were there to greet us.
Back in Whitby Rail Station
with all that steam
after a super day out at Aidensfield courtesy of our trip on the North Yorkshire Moors - Steam - Railways.
