Whitby Abbey

Cropton Forest
(circa 1506)

Children of the Night



The
Slaughtered Lamb


East Cliff



Countess Downe






Lunatic Asylum







Seagull

Vampires:

Please note there are no Vampires, no Undead and nothing supernatural in Whitby. Whitby is just an ordinary small seaport and tourist resort with lots of nice places to visit. The people here are very ordinary and have the usual day to day lives you would expect in any normal city, town or village.

Since I have lived here, however, I have thought it a very wise precaution, not to stray away from lit areas late at night, or be out when there is a sort of swirling green fog enveloping the town. Garlic seems quite popular with the locals especially on Church Street. Crucifixes are readily available and can be obtained free of charge from most post offices.

Baying Hounds:

Visitors sometimes report hearing dogs on the East Cliff howling at the full moon as it rises above the Abbey. This really is nothing to worry about.

Wolves:

Wolves have been extinct in this country for hundreds of years. So if you think you hear one or see one, don't make a fuss, because no one around here will believe you. Oh, and keep small children in the car with the doors locked and windows closed when out on the moors.

Snakes:

Snakes do not pose any danger whatsoever to people visiting this area. Anti venom packs are available from the Co-op and most newsagents.

Goth Weekends:

During the hours of darkness, not everyone dressed in black is wearing a costume. If you are unsure, try one of these simple tests: is their skin cold to the touch; do they avoid mirrors; are they drinking something other than alcohol; do they seem to be in different parts of the room, but at the same time; is their shadow missing? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then leave quickly.


The Slaughtered Lamb:

Sometimes when out on the moors at night, when the weather is cold and wet, and the fog is thick and green and swirling and all you want to do is stop off somewhere for a meal, some warmth and comfort, and a glass of the local ale, you may be tempted by the glowing lights, and the welcoming signs. Everything may look quite normal, but please drive straight past and don't give this place a second thought. There are plenty of other hostelries on the moors to choose from.

If at all possible, avoid the A169 at night, between Gallows Dike and Widow Howes Moor.

Whitby and District Ladies Amateur Transilvanian Dance Troupe:

This is not what you might think it is. It is in fact the local ladies drama society, founded by Countess Downe in the same year that the ship Demeter ran aground. They hold meetings, Tuesday and Friday evenings at 7pm, at the Friendship Club, Church Street. These meetings go on until the early hours. Lady visitors will be made especially welcome, so be careful if you've been drinking.

Whitby Hospital:

Until recently Whitby Hospital had its own Accident and Emergency unit serving the town and its outlying villages and hamlets, this was downgraded to a Minor Injury unit in 2004. Patients are now usually referred to the A&E at Scarborough Hospital for anything more than cuts, bruises, double puncture wounds to the neck and blood transfusions. The Maternity and the Geriatric units survive to this day, but the wing containing the Lunatic Asylum has long gone. Visitors to Whitby, however, can rest assured that Dr. Seward and his team will deal with any late night emergency. Visitors are asked to advise reception of their blood type on arrival.

Seagulls:

The seaside wouldn't be the same without Seagulls. Their constant swirling just above head height, the distinctive calls and their insistence on helping you eat your fish and chips if you sit down with them, anywhere along side the harbour. They fascinate children and during the day Seagulls are an enjoyable part of the visitors stay in Whitby. During the hours of darkness, however, what appears at first glance to be Seagulls flying overhead may in fact be something quite different.

Updated 09-Nov-2009