A few of the 199 (HFF Everyone)

One of the most famous landmarks in Whitby are the 199 steps that lead up from the Harbour area to St Mary’s church, also know as the ‘Church Steps’.

The first record of the steps was in 1340, though it is believed the steps were made a long time before this, as some historians believe that St Hilda would use the steps to test the faith of her followers (climbing up the steps would prove your faith, a simple task these days).

The steps were originally made of wood and stood for hundreds of years that way until 1774 when the steps were replaced with stone. There has been many years of dispute as to how many steps there are, some believe there are 198, and others believe 200 (depending on how you count the steps).

Before the 19th century, when St Mary’s was still open for burials, many people preferred to be carried up the steps, rather than giving their relatives a more easy journey and having their bodies carried in a horse and carriage along a lane leading to the church. It must have been extremely tiring carrying a body up 199 steps, so wooden planks were built in place to place the coffin on and give the pall-bearers a rest (they are now used as benches for the living to rest on).