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