Whitby Abbey

The imposing ruins of Whitby Abbey stand on a high headland projecting into the North Sea. A monastery was first established at Whitby in AD 657 by Oswy, King of Northumbria. It became one of the most important religious centres in the Anglo-Saxon world, under rule of St. Hild. In the ninth century the monastery was abandoned, possibly as the result of Viking raids. But after the Norman Conquest of 1066 a new community was established on the site by a Benedictine monk called Reinfrid. This foundation eventually grew into a great abbey - one of the richest monastic houses in Yorkshire. After the Dissolution in 1539, the site of the abbey was bought by Sir Richard Cholmley. His descendents developed the old abbot's lodging as a residence. Part of the building, now known as Cholmley House, has been restored and converted into a Visitor Centre. Drawing on the results of recent archaeological excavations, this guidebook includes a tour of the site and a fascinating history of the headland and its inhabitants. It provides an invaluable companion to your visit and an attractive souvenir to read and enjoy at home.