It is also known to be one of the most atmospheric visitor attractions along the Yorkshire coastline. Check out the Interactive Visitor Centre with its digital reconstructions and learn about the daily lives of the Monks who once inhabited the later Abbey which was destroyed in via orders from Henry VIII. You can also listen to the audio tour when wandering around the ancient ruins and take in the stunning views all around.
Back to top. This was probably thanks to raids from the Vikings and their settlement in England. The harbour town always seems to have existed in some form or another, but the Abbey was ignored until A monk named Reinfrid founded a new monastic community at this time.
This then split into two parts and each transformed into a Benedictine monastery. The ruins you can see today show the remains of the Benedictine abbey that was founded after the Norman Conquest.
In the 13th century the site was completely rebuilt in the Gothic style. The eastern arm, crossing and transepts, central tower and part of the nave were constructed between and A Whitby monk started a campaign in to raise funds for the building. We believe there were many more buildings south of the Abbey, but they were all demolished during the Suppression in The abbey church was left to decay, becoming a romantic clifftop ruin. During the 19th century, Whitby became a busy resort destination and the abbey was a popular destination for tourists.
The abbey's popularity was assured in with the publication of Bram Stoker's novel Dracula, which uses the abbey as a setting for the opening scenes. Stoker was a theatrical agent for actor Henry Irving, and also a writer. He came to Whitby in July for a break from his job, and with the germ of an idea for a Gothic novel in his head. The setting of Whitby Abbey , perched on its picturesque headland, fit perfectly with the tale evolving in Stoker's mind.
He explored St Mary's churchyard and noticed the decaying graves near the cliff edge. He noted down names and inscriptions on the gravestones for later use. He visited the public library and read an account of the British Consul to Wallachia and Moldavia retelling the story of a 15th-century prince named Vlad Tepes but known locally as Dracula, the 'son of the dragon'. During his stay in Whitby Stoker heard the story of the Russian ship Dmitry, which ran aground in below East Cliff, carrying a cargo of silver sand.
The Dmitry became the Demeter, carrying Dracula to Whitby with a cargo of silver sand. It took Stoker another 6 years to weave together the strands of the story inspired by his stay in Whitby. The tale was first published as a play titled The Undead, with Henry Irving in the lead role. Irving played the role only once before vowing to have nothing more to do with it. Undaunted, Stoker reworked the script as a novel in the form of letters, newspaper stories, and entries in the ship's log of the mythical Demeter.
It is no accident that in the finished novel the Demeter runs aground at East Cliff on 8 August, the very day that Stoker first read the story of Vlad Tepes in Whitby's public library. As for the superb remains of the abbey church, the north wall of the north transept still stands to its full height, rising in three tiers to a huge rose window.
The east and north walls of the chancel are almost complete and show wonderful Early English style arcading. The west end of the nave is different in style, showing the transition from earlier lancet windows to pointed window openings with elaborate tracery. Very little remains of the other monastic buildings that would have occupied the cliff-top site. Abbey House is now home to a museum about the abbey, with displays of archaeological finds on the headland, including remains from the early Anglian settlement, medieval gargoyles and pre-Norman crosses.
Just below the abbey on a terrace set into the hillside is the 12th-century church of St Mary's sometimes called 'The Dracula Church' because it featured in Bram Stoker's novel. Below the churchyard, a long, very steep set of stairs leads down the sloping hillside to the town and historic harbour. I've been to the Abbey numerous times, and each time I'm struck by the sheer beauty of the site. There are other medieval monasteries with more complete remains, but I doubt any can outdo Whitby for the sheer beauty and drama of the location.
There are really two ways to visit the abbey site. Back Riding centres. Back Leisure centres. Back Canoeing and sea kayaking Sailing and windsurfing Surfing and stand up paddle boarding Swimming Fishing. Back Information Desk. Back The Landscape Declaration Reports and resources. Back Introduction Next steps Grants and advice. Back Recording wildlife. Back Current volunteering opportunities.
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