Whitby Piers And Lighthouses
Lighthouse In Whitby, North Yorkshire
Whitby’s historic piers and lighthouses tell the story of the town’s maritime past, from Tudor stonework to 19th century beacons.
When visiting Whitby, you have probably photographed and walked one or both of the piers. All over the town, there are fine views of it, offering a glorious backdrop to your holiday snaps.
In the 1300's Whitby was a popular harbour for trading with Whitby Abbey, and it was easiest to arrive by sea. There were no roads over the North York Moors until 1764.
Whitby is a natural harbour, and during Henry VIII reign (1509 to 1547) the piers were maintained at royal cost. They were initially timber and loose stone.
In 1632, Sir Hugh Chomley, a Whitby Bigwig (see St Mary's for a few snippets), commissioned more stone work, which helped his own enterprise in the Alum and coal industries.
Due to the English Civil War, repairs to the Piers were halted. This was during the reign of Charles I (1600 to 1649), who was executed at the end of the Civil War.
Whitby was a productive port. By the 1700's both piers were rebuilt, as a result of an act of parliament. Whitby was gearing up for shipbuilding, and quantities of timber, pitch, and hemp from the Baltics were imported. Sail and rope making were all part of this huge concern, and by 1790, Whitby was a huge producer of Merchant ships.
In 1814, the West Pier was extended again and the sandstone lighthouse was built in 1831. It is 73-foot column tower with a lantern on top. It is sometimes open to the public.
East Pier Lighthouse was built in 1855 and is 55 feet high. It has been renovated and has new lights, however it is not open to the public.
Photo below, shows West Pier Lighthouse on the left and East Pier Lighthouse on the right.
1905 saw further extensions including wooden walkways which were added in 1914 and beacons were plonked at the ends.
In 2020, a new footbridge was built on the east side and the red beacon can be reached again. Do you know the memory prompt of 'No Red Port Left'?
These navigational aids on wooden stilts will light up and guide vessels in when required.
Here is a favourite place for fishing.
“Trinity House, a charity dedicated to the safeguarding of seafarers, built the Whitby Lighthouse in 1858. It was designed by an engineer named James Walker as a pair of towers with fixed lights, which became automated in 1992 and now stands as a singular tower. The lighthouse stands at 13meteres tall with a range light of 18NM.”
Visit North Yorkshire
A new addition of an adorned galvanised steel gate shuts the wooden west pier in bad weather.
From maps and aerial photographs, the two piers look like they cusp the River Esk estuary in their hands
I will finish with a ghost story.
"It is said that the West Pier Lighthouse in Whitby is haunted by an innocent worker who was just doing his best to make sure sailors were safe. During a very treacherous night, the lighthouse keeper noticed the light on the West Pier Lighthouse had gone out. He knew that this could be life-threatening for those out at sea and so very bravely, he set off to do his job. He was completely soaked through by the rain and his clothes dripped as he walked up the winding staircase towards the light. He made the steps very slippery and dangerous, but he hadn't noticed as he was fixed on his job. On his way back down the lighthouse keeper slipped to his death. There are accounts of people witnessing the heroic lighthouse keeper making his journey up the pier towards the lighthouse, even visitors of the lighthouse have even seen the ghostly image of a man laid out on the floor in front of the entrance."
I certainly didn't see anything on my end of the pier experience in 1999.
Whitby Guide
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How To Find Whitby Piers And Lighthouses
Where Is Whitby Piers And Lighthouses?
Lat / Long
54.492898, -0.612542
What three words
Where To Park For Whitby Piers And Lighthouses?
Lat / Long
54.484085, -0.613238
What three words
Best to park in one of the many carparks along Langborne Road (paid).
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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