BS: Why Whitby?????

Subject: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: GUEST
Date: 30 May 07 - 10:50 AM

When looking through the various threads on the 'Cat, Whitby apears to be mentioned a large number of times!!! Why is this?? What does it have/do to make it so prominent in the folk world???

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 30 May 07 - 11:09 AM

Troll alert

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 30 May 07 - 11:19 AM

I think I am missing something if that is the case John. Hardly a contoversial question!

Whitby has a huge week long folk festival in August as well as a smaller festival in May and numerous other folk events. It is also a very picturesque 'old style' seaport lending itself to a long and happy association with all things traditional.

Get along and find out for yourself:-)

Cheers

dave

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: Rapparee
Date: 30 May 07 - 11:25 AM

I thought it was because of the Synod held there in 664, which set the date of Easter and more or less rang the death knell of the Celtic church.

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: GUEST,Canadienne
Date: 30 May 07 - 11:30 AM

As Dave said, a great festival and a picturesque fishing port. Also hosts the Musicport "world music" festival followed by a "Goth" festival (Dracula landed here!)


some lovely photos here

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: greg stephens
Date: 30 May 07 - 11:36 AM

Probably because of the attractive red roof-tiles.

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: GUEST,Canadienne
Date: 30 May 07 - 11:42 AM

and not forgetting......

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 30 May 07 - 12:35 PM

Canadienne, the queues to get in are way too long - a man could die of starvation. But if he survives long enough to reach the table - Woooooooooo-Hoo! Ambrosia would be a poor second!

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 30 May 07 - 12:42 PM

As well as the various music events held throughout the year at Whitby, it is also close to Robin Hood's Bay, Staithes and Saltburn all of which hold equally successful music events.

It also holds Goth weekends twice a year.

It's a beautiful place and very popular.

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 30 May 07 - 12:49 PM

Also, since The Magpie has been mentioned, there is also

Trenchers

but again, at busy periods, there are queues outside the door.

We've got the knack of perfect timing and don't queue.

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: GUEST,buspassed
Date: 30 May 07 - 12:58 PM

Magpie & Trenchers are alright as cafes go but if you want a really memorable meal 'Greens' restaurant is the place, not cheap but then real quality never is.

Roll on Whitby FF!

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 30 May 07 - 01:00 PM

Speaking as one who attends the festival, rather than limiting myself to the fringes, Whiby Week it by far the biggest and best festival of traditional, music I've encountered on either side of the Atlantic.

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 30 May 07 - 01:18 PM

And then there's Dracula and Captain Cook, a winning combination for any seaport.

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: Rapparee
Date: 30 May 07 - 02:12 PM

Magpies, trenchers and greens? YUCK! Sounds like an awful dish!

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: nutty
Date: 30 May 07 - 03:27 PM

Don't forget the attraction of the Grand Turk   

SEE HERE

which has been moored in Whitby Harbour for long periods of time and (The captain being a folk music supporter) has hosted many super folk events.

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 30 May 07 - 04:39 PM

There are some lovely walks as well.

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 30 May 07 - 04:52 PM

See thread "Black Bull Bender this weekend" for another reason why Whitby is so prominent in the folk world.

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 31 May 07 - 01:12 AM

It's also very close to the abode of the Waterson/Carthy dynasty - they have home studios in Robin Hood's Bay; Eliza has played for a local dance team and it's generally a lovely little town with lots to do, even in March.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: Abdul The Bul Bul
Date: 31 May 07 - 02:16 AM

Whitby is in YORKSHIRE and thats reason enough.

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: GUEST,padgett
Date: 31 May 07 - 04:46 AM

Nice town/port

I have been there now some 40years from origins in late 1960s with people from Sheffield and Leeds
Remember Bob Spray, Graeme Binless, Nibs Matthews, Derek and Dorothy Elliot, Mike Harding, Tony Rose all favourites/characters

Original attraction was folk music and the annual holiday week(s) in Yorkshire and probably Lancashire which popularised the event and the Yorks/Lancs competitions like tiddley winks up and down the Abbey steps!! and the three legged races, yard of ale etc

In the early days folk clubs were keenly attended by many young people and the music/dance and social aspects were a big draw, then a full week at Whitby!

Now many folk events take place throughout the year and tourism is large part of the economy

Ray

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: pirandello
Date: 31 May 07 - 07:29 AM

Whitby is lovely-just don't go there when it's full of folkies; no offense but you can't appreciate a place when you're fighting crowds and queuing for everything.

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 31 May 07 - 07:37 AM

I remember going once, in th eearly 80's I think, when the Folk Festival clashed with the Regatta - That WAS busy! About 3 or 4 years ago the earlier Goth Weekend co-incided with Moor and Coast. Great fun:-)

Remember the 'Roses' beach cricket matches Ray? We were lucky enough to be put in to bat as the tide was coming in - making it much easier to hit boundries! A grand victory for Lancashire:-D

Dave.

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: GUEST,Neovo
Date: 31 May 07 - 08:40 AM

Is this one of those questions that if you have to ask you won't understand the answer?

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: Stu
Date: 31 May 07 - 08:50 AM

Whitby is right in the middle of some of the best Mesozoic marine sedimentary deposits in the world, in cliffs that also have occasion lagoonal facies containing the bones of and tracks of dinosaurs (there are some ankylosaurid footprints just outside the town towards Saltwick Nab - watch the tides though!).

These are fine fossiling grounds and Mrs Stigweard and myself have spent many happy hours on the beaches and had some good finds.

The best selection of fossils aavailable are not from the shops in the town, but from Yorkshire Coast Fossils, run by Mike Marshall. Mike has prepped several fossils for me and the guy is an artist. One of the countries leading palaeontologists once told me he thought Mike was the best fossil preparator in the country (he's also an excellent lapidarist).

On top of this he's just a hell of a nice chap with unrivalled local knowledge and he's always happy to help, hence the recommendation.

Plus the Wit's End Cafe at Sandsend is fantastic, serving best cup of coffee in Yorkshire, and excellent whelks are available from the fish shop in the town (and don't forget those freshly smoked kippers).

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 31 May 07 - 11:31 AM

That's why I mentioned Trenchers.

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: Tig
Date: 31 May 07 - 11:59 AM

Have you lot NO sense. We don't want to be encouraging more people to find our 'hidden' treasure (except to empty their pockets at things like Raggytash's fund raising for Runswick Lifeboat)!!! The newspapers did enough damage last year by giving it an award.

It's one of those places that once you've been you keep wanting to go back - unless you don't like hills :-) Hence it keeps getting busier all the time.

Guest, do yourself a favour. STAY AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 31 May 07 - 12:28 PM

If anybody wonders what I was talking about, the post I replied to has been deleted!

Sandsend is lovely and Stigweard is right, The Wits End Cafe is fantastic.

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: Stu
Date: 31 May 07 - 12:30 PM

What's the name of the record shop that used to be up the hill (forget the name of the street - it's the one with all the antique shops on) but is now in the town next to the goth jewellery shop?

A bit expensive but I still love to buy a CD to listen to as we head home over the North York Moors.

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 31 May 07 - 12:31 PM

Would that be Diamond Music?

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: gnomad
Date: 31 May 07 - 01:59 PM

I think that would be Folk Devils Stigweard.

I can't add much to the reasons already cited. The town is a hotbed of folkiness, and amazingly tolerant of a wide range of eccentricities, what more could you want in a home?

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: Stu
Date: 31 May 07 - 02:50 PM

That's the one gnomad! Excellent electronica section as well I seem to remember.

Can't wait to get back there.

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: 3refs
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 01:30 PM

Whitby is the Box Lacrosse capital of the world!

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: Folkiedave
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 01:39 PM

Was there yesterday - the fish and chips are a tad expensive to someone from Sheffield. Which, when you think they only have to take the fish across the road - which seems strange to me.

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 05:23 PM

Am I the only person here who remembers Whitby for the beach, the abbey steps and the amazing views from the cliffs? I recall something about a chippy, but really, the town architecture was much more interesting than any cafe....


LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: Folkiedave
Date: 02 Jun 07 - 05:06 AM

Well Liz - I cannot live by architecture alone.

I couldn't make it up the Abbey Steps (exercise induced asthma) and the views from the cliffs are still amazing. The red roofs are great and the little passageways still are great short cuts. Many of the pubs seem unchanging and there is a great emphasis on real beer.

But the fish and chips are still a tad expensive. When you consider they only have to take them across the road. (Expensive to me was F and C twice=£9.40)

For those who have not visited Whitby the fish market is on one side of the road and the fish and chip shops are on the other.

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: bbc
Date: 02 Jun 07 - 08:09 AM

Whitby's great! I photographed a seagull
there last summer. Regardless, to each his/her own. If you don't like Whitby, don't open the threads.

Best,

Barbara

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: 3refs
Date: 02 Jun 07 - 08:36 AM

I guess we're not talking about Ontario here!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 02 Jun 07 - 04:23 PM

That is one mean looking gull there!

I photographed a Triumph Triple motorbike in Whitby that looked almost as mean as that gull!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: Rasener
Date: 03 Jun 07 - 04:40 AM

Only one seagull! That's not Whitby.

Waking up at 5 in the morning to the sounds of seagulls shagging each other to death on the roof.

We rented a lovely new 3 storey property a couple of years ago for Moor & Coast.

I wondered why the master bedroom was on the ground floor, until my daughter woke us up very early saying that she couldn't sleep becuase the the noise of the seagulls was so loud she couldn't sleep (the other bedrooms were on the top floor. It had a lovely balcony, but you had to be careful not to slip on the seagull droppings.

Have a nice breakfast LOL


Apart from that Whitby is one of my favourite places to go.

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 03 Jun 07 - 04:48 AM

Ah... Memories of the Hastings Jack in the Green festival when we camped in the scout hut... seagull shagging became a spectator sport.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: bbc
Date: 03 Jun 07 - 09:45 PM

Thanks, Liz! Is the photo of the motorbike on your flickr page?

Barbara

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 04 Jun 07 - 08:06 AM

Just remembered - When I was last there (June last year) there was a huge scooter rallly. Lambrettas and Vespas galore full of chrome and fancy paitwork. - Thought I had timewarped to Brighton 1964:-)

Cheers

Dave

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 04 Jun 07 - 12:13 PM

No we are talking the original Whitby in Yorkshire although it is twinned with Whitby Ontario. We passed through the Canadien copy on our trip 18 months ago - much flatter!

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: GUEST,Canadienne
Date: 04 Jun 07 - 12:32 PM

definately NOT flat !

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: nutty
Date: 04 Jun 07 - 02:57 PM

Fossils .... the local museum in Pannett Park has some amazing fossils dug from the local cliffs and rocks. I would recommend a visit.

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: Rasener
Date: 04 Jun 07 - 03:37 PM

Nutty
My kids have been there, and they found it very interesting.

Subject: RE: BS: Why Whitby?????
From: GUEST,Irish
Date: 05 Jun 07 - 05:51 AM

Fringe in Whitby not the same since Sam Smith refused to pay the new music licence, Whitby without the Plough not the same.