| Dracula, smugglers, golden beaches and | | | | large parts of the region. Whitby survived |
| kippers: where else but Whitby? Much more | | | | this disruption, however, and in 1078 the |
| than just a quintessentially-English fishing | | | | abbey was rebuilt by the Normans to survive |
| port, Whitby's remote location on the far | | | | until 1539, when Henry VIII's policies forced |
| side of the North Yorkshire Moors has enabled | | | | St Hilda's Abbey to close for the final time. |
| it to preserve much of its unique identity | | | | |
| and heritage into the 21st century. | | | | In the centuries since its religious |
| | | | importance declined, Whitby has progressed |
| While tourism may long since have replaced | | | | from a small fishing port to a trading port |
| the sea as the town's main source of income, | | | | of some regional importance, and finally to a |
| Whitby's inhabitants have lost none of the | | | | major UK tourist destination. |
| independence and pride that are central to | | | | |
| their character and to Whitby's enduring | | | | Today, much of 18th and 19th century Whitby |
| appeal. | | | | has been preserved and restored, and the town |
| | | | has a plethora of old and new attractions |
| Situated on a geological fault, where the | | | | which draw visitors back, year after year. |
| River Esk bisects the otherwise uninterrupted | | | | |
| cliffs of the North Yorkshire coastline, | | | | Some of England's finest sandy beaches vie |
| Whitby's origins can be traced back at least | | | | with Victorian gothic buildings, the legend |
| 1350 years to the founding of Saint Hilda's | | | | of Count Dracula, major traditional music |
| Abbey in 657AD. The abbey was setup by Hilda | | | | festivals, the religious heritage of the |
| at the behest of King Oswy of Northumbria, | | | | abbey and the spectacular beauty of the |
| who upon winning the Battle of Winwaed had | | | | Yorkshire Moors to define Whitby's appeal. In |
| vowed that he would found a number of | | | | truth, the town that was once Captain Cook's |
| monasteries throughout his kingdom. As part | | | | home has many assets, and it is the |
| of this vow, he gave his daughter, Aelfleda, | | | | combination of these that give Whitby its |
| to the monastic life. | | | | unique and intriguing character. |
| | | | |
| The success of the original abbey was to be | | | | Subscribe to The Whitby Bite to keep up to |
| short-lived, as in 867 the abbey was sacked | | | | date with what's happening in and around |
| by the Danes, who were taking control of | | | | Whitby. |