Harbour mouth and piers from the Abbey Steps (HFF everyone)

The two piers in Whitby have been in existence since before the 1500's. By 1540, the two oak piers (east and west) were replaced partially, with stonework (in the reign of King Charles 1), with further work around the 1600's. Both piers were rebuilt in 1735, each measuring approximately 183m, but by 1814 the west pier was further extended to reach a length of 309m. In 1905, both the piers had new pier ends built on, each of a length of 152m.

The west pier lighthouse was built in 1831, and is a stone 83 feet column tower with a lantern on top. This light still displays a green light when shipping is expected. This lighthouse was replaced in 1914, by a wooden framework tower on 'legs, located at the seaward end of the new pier extension.

Whitby East Pier Light (or Whitby East Breakwater Light), was built in 1854. The stone built lighthouse stands 55 foot high ( approx 16 mtrs) and had a light visible from 8 miles (approx 13 km).

This too was replaced in 1914, by the new Whitby east pier light. The new light was built as a wooden framework tower on 'legs', again at the seaward end of the new pier extension. Currently operational, it displays an automated fixed red light (red for port).