Whitby - St Mary's

Whitby Abbey was founded in 657 AD by King Oswiu, as an act of thanksgiving, after defeating Penda, the pagan king of Mercia. The abbey became the leading royal nunnery of the kingdom of Deira, and the burial-place of its royal family. In 664, the Synod of Whitby took place, which determined the calculation of the Christian date of Easter, according to which Easter always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the beginning of spring on March 21st. This rule for the movable holiday prevailed throughout Europe and is still in force today.


A Norman church was built on the site around 1110, the tower and transepts are from the 12th and 13th centuries. The church is overlooking the town, close to the ruins of Whitby Abbey. A flight of 199 steps leads up the hill to the church from the streets below.

Bram Stoker spent some time in Whitby in 1890. The town and its surroundings inspired him greatly. The church graveyard is used as a setting his novel, Dracula.