Whitby Abbey

Whitby Abbey (1.25 HOUR NORTHEAST OF YORK)
Address: Abbey Ln, Whitby YO22 4JT
Phone: +44 370 333 1181
Website: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/whitbyabbey

Perched on a ragged cliff above the town of Whitby in North Yorkshire, Whitby Abbey stands at the border of land and sea (the North Sea)–history and fantasy. The first monastery built on this site was founded in 657 AD by the Anglo-Saxon era King of Northumbria, Oswy (Oswiu). This monastery hosted the very influential Synod of Whitby which determined that the Northumbrian church would follow Roman Catholic customs, including the date for Easter. Following the Danish raids of the 9th century, this original monastery fell into disrepair. Benedictine monk Reinfrid established a new community on the site in 1078, which thrived for centuries, until in 1540 it became a target of Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries. The ruins that stand tall today are a reminder of the rich Christian heritage of this region. They might also remind you of some of the most dramatic scenes from Dracula, since Bram Stoker gave Whitby a prominent role in the novel after the author spent some time vacationing there. In general, Whitby Abbey is open daily from 10am to 6pm.