Crows Nest
Art In Whitby, North Yorkshire
No murder of Corvids, but a navigational aid for ships.
This Crow's Nest is adjacent to the Arnold Palmer crazy Golf. You may enjoy a preamble down/up to the colourful beach huts and Whitby Pavilion (café and free toilets).
This seaman is staying alert, looking for danger or land—the galvanised flag flutters in a stiff breeze.
As Whitby has such a rich heritage, it is worth having a look around and there is a Whitby walk with Heritage Trail that features this Crow's Nest which is by wire artist Emma Stothard.
Each figure is made from steel wire carefully woven by hand around a steel armature then hot-dip galvanised. There are nine sculptures: you can see them in any order.
Visit Whitby website
A crow's nest is where a lookout would be stationed on a ship, high up on the mast resembling a beer barrel. You may ask why it is called a Crow's Nest? Crows or Ravens were carried on Viking ships and put in a cage at the top of the mast. During times of poor visibility, it is said the bird would be released and head for land, which the Vikings would follow. Crows can fly on average at 45 miles an hour, so those ships must of flown! This is according to Naval legend.
“The crow's nest was invented by William Scoresby senior. It was first used in 1807. It was constructed from wood and canvas and entered via a small trap door in the bottom. There were racks inside for a telescope, speaking trumpet and signal flags.” “The master or mate would sit in the crow's nest at the top of the main mast, sometimes for hours on end on the lookout for whales and guiding the ship through the ice.”
Whitby Museum at Plannett Park
Captain William Scoresby (1760 to 1829) is credited with other improvements and creations such as the ice-drill, and harpoons for whale hunting. See the Whale Bone Arch for more details. His son Rev. William Scoresby (1789-1857) was also renowned and there are some details at St Marys Church.
When I visited Whitby in the 1990s, there used to be a life sized crows nest opposite the railway station. I only guess it was removed as many a young lad may have tried to scale it and then to be met with the local Bobby on the return.
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How To Find Crows Nest Whitby
Where Is Crows Nest Whitby?
Lat / Long
54.490554, -0.622054
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Where To Park For Crows Nest Whitby?
Lat / Long
54.4905, -0.622193
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Most parking on the West Cliff is on street, and charged. It will be very busy during peak times. There are large car parks on the East side where a good walk up to the West Cliff will stretch those legs. It is also precarious to drive from the Pier Road up the Kyber Pass, due to the amount of people about and twisting road. So best to enter the town from the West side if you are intent on parking on this side.
Contributed by Rosalind Parker
Thank you for reading. I hope it sparks your interest. It’s always a pleasure to get out and explore, whatever the weather. I enjoy uncovering little snippets of information, especially when they’re obscure, amusing, or meaningful. All photos were taken on a mobile phone.
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