Table of Contents
How old are the Whitby whale bones?
About. Original Whale jaw bone arch was erected some time after 1853 and is now in the Whitby Archives & Heritage Centre. A replica was presented to Whitby by Norway in 1963. The current replacement was donated by Alaska in April 2003.
Where did the Whitby whale bones come from?
The bones were acquired in 1963 by Whitby Rural District Council as a gift from a Norwegian shipping company to mark the town’s whaling past. The bones came from a 113-ton fin whale which was killed in the Weddell Sea in the Antarctic by the Norwegian whaling ship Thorshovdi.
When did whaling start in Whitby?
1753
Whaling in Whitby began in the mid-1700s. Two ships set sail in 1753 full of local fishermen. Their inexperience showed and they returned to town with only three whales. When they set sail with two additional ship in 1754, the locals were joined with seasoned Dutch harpooners and the industry began to grow.
What is whaling in Whitby?
It is thought that Whitby’s whaling industry was responsible for the harvest of over 25,000 seals, 55 polar bears and 2761 whales. These were brought back to Whitby where great boiler houses built alongside the harbour rendered the blubber into oil.
Are the Whitby whale bones real?
Picturesque though it be, the current whale bone arch in Whitby is not the original; it’s actually the third arch to stand in this spot. In 1963 the original whale arch was replaced by 20-foot jaw bones from a 113-ton Fin whale killed by a Norwegian whaling ship.
What are the bones at Whitby?
These 20-foot jaw bones honor a time when the leviathan bones were a sign that whalers survived the hunt. In the 18th and 19th centuries the whaling industry was thriving in the seaside town of Whitby in North Yorkshire.
Why is there 199 steps in Whitby?
The steps were originally made from wood. It was not until 1774 that the original wooden steps were replaced with stone from Sneaton. It is thought the 199 steps were used as a test of Christian faith to those who wished to worship in St Mary’s Church. Climbing the steps would prove that you were faithful.
Where are the Whitby whale bones?
West Cliff
Situated up on the West Cliff area of Whitby, in front of the grand Royal Hotel, is the famous Whalebone Arch where you can take a wonderful photo as a momento of your trip to Whitby…
Why is Whitby Abbey in ruins?
The monastery was abandoned following Danish raids in the 9th century but the Benedictine monk Reinfrid established a new community on the site in 1078. The Benedictine monastery was suppressed by Henry VIII in 1539 and its ruins are the ones we see on Whitby headland today.
When was the whale bone arch in Whitby built?
To recognize this tradition and the town’s important whaling history, a whale bone arch was erected on Whitby’s West Cliff in 1853.
Where did the bowhead whale bones come from?
The bones that make up the 15ft Whalebone Arch were presented to the town as a gift from Alaska in 2003. Unveiled by Miss Alaska, the Bowhead whale bones replaced the 20ft Fin whale jaw bones that had earlier been gifted to the town from Norway in 1963.
When did the whaling industry start in Whitby?
Whaling in Whitby began in the mid-1700s. Two ships set sail in 1753 full of local fishermen. Their inexperience showed and they returned to town with only three whales. When they set sail with two additional ship in 1754, the locals were joined with seasoned Dutch harpooners and the industry began to grow.
Which is the nearest train station to whale bone arch?
New Quay road to Peir road and the Kyber Pass to the Whale bone arch, West Cliff. Number 92 local bus up to the West cliff from Whitby bus station and Open top buses during the season run every 15 minutes. The nearest railway station is Whitby, which is 0 miles away.