Whitby Abbey in England – history, description, photos, myths, how to get there, map
Mystical legends are not born from scratch – they always have a real basis: objects, natural phenomena, significant events. The most mysterious, gloomy places and events have a truthful prosaic explanation that reveals a veil of mystery of their origin. An example of such a place is the ancient Abbey of Whitby, located on the eastern part of the British coast, in the county of Yorkshire. Whitby Abbey is otherwise called the “monastery of stone snakes” for the fossilized spiral-shaped shells in its vicinity, reminiscent of frozen snake “rings”. According to legend, these shells are snakes, once turned into stone sculptures by Saint Hilda in order to rid the inhabitants of dangerous reptiles. And until now, stones of this shape, often found in the county of North Yorkshire, are called “stone snakes” by the locals.
Description of Whitby Abbey
What is now this place shrouded in a mystical web of romantic legends and gloomy beliefs? On the heights of the East Cliff in the vicinity of the city of Whitby, surrounded by verdant fields and meadows, the ruins of a once majestic structure rise like ghosts. Narrow Gothic window openings, pointed domes of preserved towers are witnesses of ancient times. In the evening hours, when the last reflections of the crimson sunset fade, the monastery ruins look like black giants. Silently listen to the symphony of the wind, walking through the empty halls, numerous monuments erected at the local cemetery, where the inhabitants of the monastery were buried. Some of the tombstones date back to 667-865.
History of Whitby Abbey
The legendary monastery (657) was organized and built at the behest of King Oswiu, who defeated the ruler of Mercia. On the eve of the battle, the king swore before the Christian church to build a monastery on the conquered land. This is how the famous Whitby Abbey arose, and its first abbess was the nun Hilda, who after her death was given the status of “saint” for her services in the development of the abbey. At first, both men and women lived in the abbey, and later it (the abbey) became a monastery. Gradually, the holy monastery turned into a popular center of youth education. It is known that a well-known representative of the early poetry of Britain, Caedmon, was brought up and trained within its walls. Here the descendants of the royal family of Deir found their last refuge, important church councils were held, including the fateful cathedral of 664,
The proceeds from the city fairs held annually on Saint Hilda's birthday went to the treasury of the abbey, and it prospered again until the 15th century. Whitby was not ruined by the Norwegians. The abbey suffered the sad fate of oblivion under the reign of Henry VIII of England. Great damage to buildings turned into ruins was caused by shelling by German cruisers in the First World War (1915).
Mystical Legends of Whitby Abbey
The majestic ruins of the ancient monastery over the centuries inspired many legends and beliefs that have survived to this day, exciting the imagination and hearts of local residents and curious tourists. Despite the “electronic” age, the myth of the transformation of snakes into stones by Saint Hilda continues to live. Many claim that they have repeatedly seen in the gaps of the windows the moving silhouette of a girl who once violated her vow of celibacy. Seeing once a handsome knight, the nun fell in love with him at first sight with all the passion of a woman yearning for love for a man. For carnal sin, she was severely punished: she was walled up alive in the wall of one of the tombs.
One of the legends tells about the bells taken from the bell tower of the abbey, sunk in the sea, but continuing to ring from the seabed. In the 18th century, under the pretext of dispelling rumors about spontaneously ringing bells left in the abbey and the apparition of the ghost of St. Hilda, the authorities ordered them (the bells) to be removed and taken by ship to be melted down. Having sailed a short distance from the coast, the ship sank for some unknown reason, giving food for new myths about the underwater chime of bells. There is a belief about the collapse of the main high (30 m) tower of the abbey, which collapsed suddenly, for no apparent reason. As the locals assured, on the eve of the collapse, for several days they allegedly observed the ghosts of long-dead residents of Whitby, circling in a round dance around the tower.
Legend of Count Dracula
The mystical Whitby Abbey is also associated with the name of the infamous Count Dracula, who became the hero of the novel of the same name by Bram Stoker, inspired by the expressive spectacle of the monastery ruins and made them the place where Dracula turned into a vile dog. The real prototype of this hero – the Romanian Count Vlad Tepes (Kol) became famous for his boundless cruelty towards his enemies, who, on his orders, were impaled. The spectacle of bleeding victims caused satisfaction in the inhuman soul of Dracula, and, probably, that is why he was nicknamed the vampire by the people.
The image of Lucy in the novel, who became a vampire, also did not arise from scratch. Its prototype was a real aristocratic woman, about whose cruel sadism there were many rumors. She personally executed her servants, enjoying the sight of blood flowing. The villainous image of Dracula has become a fertile basis for the creation of various works of art: novels, plays, operas, films. Many Eastern Europeans believe that this vampire count once lived in one of the castles of their country. Not without its Dracula and Whitby Abbey, “glorified” in Stoker's novel, which has become a “horror classic”. Residents of the local environs are firmly convinced that the former monastery is Dracula's castle.
The Modern Reality of Whitby Abbey
Today, a small British town (13 thousand inhabitants), despite its small size, has become a major tourist attraction, attracting a huge number of tourists from different countries. Fans of everything mystical, lovers of extreme hobbies, artists, poets, writers, filmmakers, etc. come here. Ancient castles, Dalby forest, Mallyan Spout waterfall and other attractions are of interest to everyone, even very sophisticated travelers. Here you feel the atmosphere of medieval England, a powerful ruler.
The main attractive symbol of these places is the ruins of Whitby Abbey, stunning the imagination not only with its Gothic appearance, but also with the trail of extraordinary legends associated with them, and the dramatic history of the former monastery. In recent years, luxurious modern hotels and guest houses of various levels of comfort from 3 stars and above have appeared in the city and its environs. Most of them are located in picturesque places with good ecology, the interior design is made in impeccable English style.
Beautiful landscape scenery, proximity to unique sights make a stay in Whitby rich and rich in impressions, give rise to romantic feelings in the soul and inspire the creation of works of art.
How to get to Whitby
The most difficult thing in organizing a trip to England for Russian tourists is to get a Schengen visa, but otherwise there are no problems. If you are a Schengen holder, there are no obstacles to arriving in London. There are plenty of flights from Moscow airports, 4 hours – and you are in London. Trains run from there to Yorkshire. In 2 hours you arrive in the city of York, from which you can get to Whitby by a comfortable bus in 1.5 hours. If you arrive in Whitby in the evening, you can easily find an overnight stay in one of the many hotels in the city, and in the morning you will go to the abbey.
It is open to visitors all year round according to a certain schedule. March-September – from 10.00 to 18.00; October-November – 10.00-17.00, in other months the monastery is open on weekends – Saturdays and Sundays, from 10.00 to 16.00. The Dracula Museum welcomes visitors during the summer months, from 10.00 to 16.00; in the winter months – only on weekends, from 10.00 to 16.00.