Tourists,Tourists,Tourists!
My goodness I have never seen so many en - mass .
We thought the fact that it was a Bank Holiday was the attraction but speaking to Whitby folk working in some of the little retail establishments ,this is the norm!
We decided to keep away from tourists today,even though we fit into this category but my goodness,what can I say it has been full on,bus loads and car loads of them.It is also mid semester break for schools also.
We needed to visit the information centre to assist in the orientation process and we wanted to visit the railway station.
We collected our information and headed off for a walk.We needed to check on the car so we set off to walk up the hill to the Abbey.
This is a very steep walk but we were amazed at the architecture and the gardens.
We passed the car and it was fine and not costing us an inordinate amount of money for pay and display!
We continued on up the hill.
The stone fences and the haunting profile on the hill top provide a breathtaking vista.
The original Abbey housed both men and women and it was in 664 that the Abbess Hilda presided over the Synod of Whitby which set the date for Easter,and sought to further reconcile the Celtic and roman traditions of Christianity in Western Europe .
Two hundred years after it's destruction,the Abbey was re- established in the 11th century under the Benedictine order by Reinfrid,under the patronage of William de Percy.
At its peak it was one of the richest houses in Yorkshire,controlled extensive lands,and housed some forty monks.The 12th and 13th century buildings fell into ruin after the dissolution in 1539-the central tower,however,stood until 1830. The remains are now under the care of English Heritage.
Abbey House was built by Sir Francis Cholmley after the dissolution,in about 1580;enlarged and improved by the celebrated Sir Hugh Cholmley in about 1635-often using the old Abbey ruins as a quarry,but the frontage overlooking the town is now largely Victorian.
After taking lots of photographs and getting damp from a shower of rain we head back to town by climbing down the 199 steps of the Church Stair which were completely renovated in 2005/ 2006.They were originally constructed of wood and far pre- date the first known reference of 1270.The broad landings and seats were designed for the easement of bearers of coffins where they rested their burden on the long climb to the cliff top grave yard.It appears true Whitby people favoured their coffins being carried up the church stair rather than being "hearsed" via the hearse road.
As we came down the steps we looked over the rail to the so -called Donkey Road,called Church Lane,this is a cobbled track beside the stairs leading up to the Abbey,Abbey Plain and Abbey House.
A poor dad was wheeling his son in a stroller down over the cobbled pathway and he was experiencing a great deal of difficulty.
We hit Church Street and headed home.
Another big day.
Tomorrow we are going to do some exploring in the car,starting with a trip to Scarborough.