Whitby
"If there's one essential stop on the North Yorkshire coast it's Whitby, whose historical associations, atmospheric ruins, fishing harbor and intrinsic charm make it many people's favorite northern resort."
-- Rough Guide to England
Whitby, a beautiful fishing town on the North Yorkshire coast of England, has more historical and religious importance than its size and semi-remote location might suggest.
It was here, at the Synod of Whitby in 664 AD, that the Saxon Christians decided to adopt the customs of the Roman Catholic church instead of the Celtic Church. The council was held in Whitby Abbey, an important monastery founded by St. Hilda, a Saxon princess, in 657 AD. In the centuries that followed, Whitby hosted such notable figures as St. Caedmon (the first English poet), William Scoresby (a whaler featured in Moby Dick), Captain James Cook, and Bram Stoker (who set much of Dracula in Whitby).
Whitby is a beautiful town that is a delight to explore. Both the abbey and its neighbor, St. Mary's Church, are fascinating religious sights, and the red roofs of the houses that overlook the harbor and the North Sea are enchanting. The fish and chips are excellent (the best this author had anywhere in England) and quaint shops are abundant.
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