The clouds and the mist that overlook the high cliffs in Whitby mask its glorious history and culture.
One of the main attractions for tourists when they come to Whitby is to learn about its rich and varied heritage and its history, not only about Captain Cook but much more than that.
The Whitby Abbey is said to have been built in the 7th century AD and that's when the rich history of this town began.
But until about the 16th century, it had only 30-40 houses and 200 residents.
Due to the proximity of the sea, it slowly developed into a port town, an identity which it maintains even today.
Mining and shipbuilding was also undertaken in this town when it was in its youth and the mining of alum and coal and its transport through the port to various other parts of England, helped in the growth of the economic prosperity of the town.
The Whitby jet jewellery, made from the mineraloid jet which is found in parts of Whitby, also became very famous during the Victorian Era.
Whitby has also been witness to some shipping disasters, including the sinking of the ship Rohilla, which hit the rocks near the shore and sank.
Whitby is also known for its whaling history, which is an industry that began in this town in the middle of the 18th century.
It was considered to be a dangerous industry but considering the large amount of money it brought in and also the adventure that it provided, it did flourish in those times.
Several people were killed by the rough seas which rode roughshod over them but there were also several successful catches that were made.
In recognition of the rich history of the whaling industry in Whitby, a monument was erected, which was made from the huge jawbones of a whale and this monument still stands proudly in this town.
This industry slowly began to decline in about 50-60 years of its emergence, as the catches began to become lesser and lesser and the risk too high, considering the returns that it provided.
Any town with a rich history, along with high cliffs and abbeys and mist, is likely to attract people who believe in ghosts and Dracula, and Whitby is no exception.
It does have its share of Phantom stories in its folklore, which include the belief that the inspiration for the Dracula novel happened due to the author's visit to this town.
So, Whitby is considered special by the Gothic community and every year, several Goth events are organized in the town.
Such events are also a big attraction for a lot of tourists.
Though Whitby is a small town, it does occupy a very important place in history, the remnants of which continue to remain even today.
This, along with the beautiful sights that it provides and also the excellent transport and accommodation facilities that it has, makes it an ideal tourist spot for anyone visiting the UK.
One of the main attractions for tourists when they come to Whitby is to learn about its rich and varied heritage and its history, not only about Captain Cook but much more than that.
The Whitby Abbey is said to have been built in the 7th century AD and that's when the rich history of this town began.
But until about the 16th century, it had only 30-40 houses and 200 residents.
Due to the proximity of the sea, it slowly developed into a port town, an identity which it maintains even today.
Mining and shipbuilding was also undertaken in this town when it was in its youth and the mining of alum and coal and its transport through the port to various other parts of England, helped in the growth of the economic prosperity of the town.
The Whitby jet jewellery, made from the mineraloid jet which is found in parts of Whitby, also became very famous during the Victorian Era.
Whitby has also been witness to some shipping disasters, including the sinking of the ship Rohilla, which hit the rocks near the shore and sank.
Whitby is also known for its whaling history, which is an industry that began in this town in the middle of the 18th century.
It was considered to be a dangerous industry but considering the large amount of money it brought in and also the adventure that it provided, it did flourish in those times.
Several people were killed by the rough seas which rode roughshod over them but there were also several successful catches that were made.
In recognition of the rich history of the whaling industry in Whitby, a monument was erected, which was made from the huge jawbones of a whale and this monument still stands proudly in this town.
This industry slowly began to decline in about 50-60 years of its emergence, as the catches began to become lesser and lesser and the risk too high, considering the returns that it provided.
Any town with a rich history, along with high cliffs and abbeys and mist, is likely to attract people who believe in ghosts and Dracula, and Whitby is no exception.
It does have its share of Phantom stories in its folklore, which include the belief that the inspiration for the Dracula novel happened due to the author's visit to this town.
So, Whitby is considered special by the Gothic community and every year, several Goth events are organized in the town.
Such events are also a big attraction for a lot of tourists.
Though Whitby is a small town, it does occupy a very important place in history, the remnants of which continue to remain even today.
This, along with the beautiful sights that it provides and also the excellent transport and accommodation facilities that it has, makes it an ideal tourist spot for anyone visiting the UK.