Herb Riddle's photos with the keyword: Whitby

Reminded by our Ipernity friend Rosalyn Hilborne and her excellent photos of Whitby and its Abbey, I revisited my old Panoramio photos of the same subject. Here is one taken in 2014 set in an atmospheric monochrome in an attempt to add the feeling of age and perhaps conjure up images relating to Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The Abbey was a 7th-century Christian monastery that later became a Benedictine abbey. The abbey church was situated overlooking the North Sea on the East Cliff above Whitby in North Yorkshire. Essential full screen Ps Rosa’s photos: www.ipernity.com/doc/rjh/51638418

Whitby's original railway station stood near to the end of the current platform, in the form of the offices, workshop and carriage shed of the Whitby and Pickering Railway; a single track horse worked line opened throughout in 1836. Its engineer was George Stephenson. It has been run through the years by W&P, Y&MR, NER, LNER and finally British Railways. Now it’s quite different after many modifications completed in 2014 allowing by 2020: 4-5 trains per day from the heritage line of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) and six a day by the present ‘Northern Line’ which is part of our National Railway system. Here we see, left the diesel having just arrived from Grosmont and the steam engine Repton on the right making ready for departure. Diesel No. D7328: BR Class 25 “Sybilla” –Built in Manchester by Beyer Peacock (Sulzer Ltd), entered service in 1965. Withdrawn 1987 from Cricklewood East after 24 years 10 months. BO-Bo wheel arrangement. Steam Locomotive: SR No. 926 “Repton” - ‘The Opimist’, SR Class V ‘Schools’ 4-4-0. Built in Eastleigh and entered service in 1934, withdrawn in 1962 at Basingstoke after 28 years of service. Worked for Southern Railway and British Railways. (was No. 30926 from 1948-62) Best full screen. Ps someday, I shall make a mini-series of all these trains in their full glory.

A few weeks ago I posted a shot on here showing the replica of the ship ‘Endeavour’. Here it is now in all its glory lying in its berth at Whitby’s Marine harbour. A full scale replica here, having been built in 1993 and towed here from Middlesbrough in 2017. It now houses the 'Edeavour Experience' museum. See Pips. More info: www.hmbarkendeavour.co.uk Have a great weekend.

A high view down to the main promenade and quayside of this old town. We are looking on the main town here across the River Esk. You can see that it is fairly busy as people are trying to make the most of a C19 inter-lockdown gap. The foreground huts and shelters house the main fish market and if you look carefully you can clearly see the sign. In year past, there would not have been a gap to see the old quay, for the amount of fishing boats lined up to unload their daily catch –how things have changed. Fortunately, Whitby still does have part of its old fishing fleet and the market still thrives in normal conditions. The quayside here is lined with traditional shops and old Inns as well as a few fish ‘n’ chip shops. The statue of its adopted hero Captain James Cook and also the iconic Whalebone arch stand just right (out of picture) of the green grass area on the centre right. See Pips. Enjoy full size.

A high view showing this very distinctive coastline from just behind the Abbey. The next biggish place on this coast is Robin Hood Bay about five miles south of here. Many sea birds make their nest in and around these cliffs and as you can see it can be pretty interesting walking the sands too –but I have never done that here. - This cliff line is known as ‘The Scar’ and the ‘Islands’ are part of ‘Saltwick Nab’ which originally contained the Saltwick Nab ancient alum quarries. Of course there are still a lot of fossils to be found around here. A number of ships have met there end on these rocks too. Enjoy full size.

Whitby is blessed with many splendid waterside views. Here we are looking at the east side from the busy road-bridge. The other side of these white houses backs onto perhaps the most popular street in the old town area; Sandgate. Once large cargo ships passed this point to the warehouses some way behind me. Now this side houses a few pleasure craft and the lifeboat station (RNLI –see adjacent photo or PiP). Best full screen.

RNLB 'George and Mary Webb' at your service.

Looking across the harbour to the two piers. In front we have the old section of the East pier, which like on the west pier in the background, has many benches for people to rest and picnic. An ideal spot, especially in good warm weather. Full screen essential. HBM to all, have a great week.

Back here in the lovely seaside town of Whitby looking down on its row of beach-huts. A coloured ribbon adds to the wonderful curve of this fenced promenade. This was actually taken just between our Covid lockdowns when we thought for a short number of weeks that all would be normal again soon. Hopefully this brings nice thoughts to your mind of better times and places. HFF and have a great weekend.

After reading Rosalyn Hilborne's comment on the previous page I tried to take a look on line to see the bridge opened and was surprised of how few there were and also what poor quality ones there was of them. So I took a look in my archives and found this from 2014, when we were last there. Hope you enjoy it. As always, deserves full size.

A different view to normal of this famous Abbey. At the side of the Abbey stands the old Whitby Hall or as it is also known 'Cholmley House and the Banqueting House' with its replica statue of Borghese's Gladiator which we see here. Part of the Hall is now the Whitby YHA (Youth Hostel Association). www.yha.org.uk/hostel/yha-whitby Nice full screen PiP for adjacent page photo

Whitby Abbey as seen from the side. The sea is just behind me, below the cliffs. "Whitby Abbey was a 7th-century Christian monastery that later became a Benedictine abbey. The abbey church was situated overlooking the North Sea on the East Cliff above Whitby in North Yorkshire, a centre of the medieval Northumbrian kingdom. The abbey and its possessions were confiscated by the crown under Henry VIII during the Dissolution of the Monasteries between 1536 and 1545. Since that time, the ruins of the abbey have continued to be used by sailors as a landmark at the headland. Since the 20th century, the substantial ruins of the church have been declared a Grade I Listed building and are in the care of English Heritage; the site museum is housed in Cholmley House just to the right of this picture. (see adjacent photo -PiP) The abbey is a setting in Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1897). Count Dracula as a creature resembling a large dog which came ashore at the Whitby headland runs up the 199 steps to the graveyard of St Mary's Church in the shadow of the abbey ruins. The abbey is also described in Mina Harker’s diary." Wiki

Lots of fences here to satisfy the most ardent Happy Fence Friday fan :) Whitby harbour is protected by a pair of piers set in a claw-like shape by which the River Esk escapes into the North Sea. 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. In Feb 2020 a new footbridge was constructed on the east pier to link the main pier to its the wooden extension. (Seen on here in white.) Full screen essential.

A view towards the sea on this stone walkway. The oak extension is to the left, ending with the red topped beacon you can just see here. In front of us is also the East Pier with its lighthouse and its new wooden trestle extension. Enjoy

Another view of this pier showing the wooden end of the pier mounted on top of the concrete base. Enjoy full size.

When one walks to the end of this oak pier, we find there is a ladder going underneath to an almost secret walkway, a spot inhabited by fishermen in bad weather. Here we see a view from there in monochrome, befitting this historic town. The tower seen here is the West Pier lighthouse, built in 1831 and occasionally opened to the public. Two Pips of alternate views included. Full screen essential.

A view of this iconic west pier built in two halves, one in stone and the other oak. We also see its beacons and lighthouse. A right pier also exist and that is also glimpsed here holding the red topped beacon tower and the smaller right hand lighthouse. 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. A newer lighthouse beacon stands at the end of this pier, a wooden framework tower on 'legs' built in 1914. Only the older west pier lighthouse is open to the public, but on a limited number of days per year.

A view along the River Esk that makes us rub our eyes. A glimpse here of looking into the past, back to 1768 in fact and seeing Captain Cooks ship: The Endeavour, being kitted out for its epic sail to Australia and New Zealand. This is in fact a full scale replica having been built in 1993 and towed here from Middlesbrough in 2017. It now houses the 'Edeavour Experience' museum. (A similar full size sailing counterpart resides in Australia.) The bridge in the foreground is the famous swing road bridge. See next photo for opened bridge. More info: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-44335848