. 
Monday 2nd April 2001
Weather: Mild with some sunny periods
Whitby
.
High on West Cliff
stands a bronze statue of Whitby's most famous adopted son, Captain James Cook,
famed for his great voyages of exploration in ships built in the
local boatyards and launched on the river below
. 
Nearby is Royal Crescent where, at No 6, a plaque denotes the house where Bram Stoker stayed on his visits to Whitby
. 
On walking down Cliff Street, look on your left for Bakehouse Yard - a plaque is dedicated to lifeboatman Henry Freeman
Over on the east
side we enjoy a classic view across the red pantile rooftops of
old Whitby town
- the hotels opposite are on West Cliff and Captain Cook's
memorial statue can just be seen in the top right of the photo
. 
Dominating the wind-swept heights of East Cliff is St Mary's Parish Church, built around AD 1110
. 
Visitors will be
interested to note that there is no artificial lighting in the
church
- electricity is only used for the organ and in the bell tower
so when illumination is needed in the church it is provided by
candles
The photograph
(above left) shows the famous three-decker pulpit - for services
the Parish Clerk sits in the bottom-deck,
the priest takes the service using the middle-deck and the sermon
is given from the preaching box
Most churchyards
contain some kind of curious epitaph - St Mary's is no exception
- on the south-east side of the church is the 'Huntrodd's
Memorial'
. 
At the bottom of the 199 steps that lead down from the church we enjoyed a 'cuppa' in the Abbey Steps Tea Rooms
. 
Various narrow
alleys lead off Whitby's streets into what are often called
'yards'
- as the photos (above) of the craft shop show, they are well
worth exploring
. 
In Grape Lane many
of the buildings date from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries
- the building (above right) dates from 1619 and this is where a
young James Cook lodged whilst serving his apprenticeship
learning the service of the sea under the guidance of a Master
Mariner called John Walker
The building is now a museum dedicated to the exploits of Captain Cook
I can never walk past this sweet shop in Sandgate without treating myself to some 'goodies' . . .
. . . nor can I pass old cottage names like this without taking a photograph!
. 
Further exploration along a couple of narrow, sheltered alleyways brings us the reward of . . .
. 
. . . a display of spring flowers and a miniature 'scare-crow' or, I suppose in this case, a 'scare-seagull' !!!
Meanwhile, back at harbour, normal day-to-day life continues for Whitby's hardy fishermen . . .
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