East Cliff
Cropton Forest
(circa 1506)
Children of the Night
The
Slaughtered Lamb
Countess Downe
Lunatic Asylum
Seagull
Whitby Abbey
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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:
For many years, 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.
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