Whitby is a unique town with an atmosphere like no other. A short stroll around the cobbled streets will quickly give you a sense of the history that is encompassed in the seaside town. But what is Whitby most famous for and why do hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to Whitby each year? Here are 9 mind-blowing facts about Whitby which you may not have known!
Interesting facts about Whitby you may not have known
1) Whitby was the inspiration for the novel Dracula
Many visitors come to Whitby are shocked at the Gothic nature of some of the shops. Many do not realise that Whitby has close connections to the novel Dracula and that Bram Stoker stayed in Whitby while writing parts the famous novel. Stoker was inspired by the moody atmosphere of the town and took inspiration from landmarks such as Whitby Abbey, St Mary’s Church Yard and the 199 steps.
2) Whitby has close connections with Captain Cook
Captain Cook was born not too far from Whitby and he moved to the town to study his seaman’s apprenticeship with John and Henry Walker. It was during the apprenticeship that Captain Cook found his love for the seas, sailing coal ships for the Walkers.
Cook went on to be one of the most decorated explorers of our time and set sail from Whitby during many of his voyages of discovery. Today, you can visit the Captain Cook Memorial Museum located on Grape Lane which was once the house where Cook lived during his apprenticeship.
3) Whitby was once a major Whaling port
There are few reminders left around Whitby of its rich Whaling history. Perhaps the most prominent reminder is the Whalebone Arch which can be found on the top of the West Cliff close to the Captain Cook monument.
Between 1750 and 1840 Whaling was big business in Whitby, with over 50 Whaling ships operating from Whitby Harbour. Many local families became wealthy from the industry and many local men were employed on the Whaling ships.
4) Whitby was bombed during World War 1
On 16 December 1914 Whitby was bombed by the German Navy as part of a coastal attack with also included Scarborough and Hartlepool. The attack resulted in 137 fatalities and 592 casualties, with the vast majority been civilians.
During the attack on Whitby, a coastguard station was shelled along with Whitby Abbey and many other buildings in the town.
5) Whitby is haunted!
Whitby is a hotbed of paranormal activity, with ghost hunters from around the globe coming to the town each year to experience the paranormal activities which occur in the town. You only have to walk around Whitby alone at night to sample the ghostly atmosphere. Whitby even has a couple of people offering Whitby ghosts walks around the town at night.
6) Whitby has the best fish and chips in the UK
With so many good fish and chips shops in Whitby, it’s hard to pick an outright “best of the bunch”.
Many of the takeaways and restaurants in Whitby have won awards from various different organisations over the last few years. Mister Chips and The Magpie Cafe are well known for the high quality of the fish and chips served. People travel from all over the UK to queue up outside The Magpie for a taste of their renowned fish and chips.
7) Whitby was once a smuggling hotbed.
Throughout history, men have made a living from smuggling goods and living under the nose of the taxman.
Whitby and the surrounding villages were a hotbed for smuggling for generations, with tales of hidden tunnels and secret societies a plenty.
8) Whitby once had a thriving jewellery industry
Between 1850 and 1915 the “Whitby Jet Jewellery” industry was at its peak. Whitby Jet is a rare gemstone which is found in the coastline around Whitby. Even today, Jet can be found locally in the cliffs. During peak production, the industry employed around 1400 people in the area.
Extremely popular in the Victorian era, Whitby Jet was seen as a statement item of luxury jewellery.
During the early 1900s, Whitby Jet was most commonly associated with memorial jewellery, simply because of its intense black colour.
9) You can find dinosaurs in Whitby
One of my favourite pastimes while in Whitby is fossil hunting. Whitby yields excellent ammonite specimens and dinosaur/reptile remains.
The best time to collect is during the winter storms or scouring conditions. You can have hours of fun searching for fossils along the Whitby coastline and there has even been a full dinosaur skeleton found along the Whitby coastline!