On the West Cliff of Whitby, visit the Captain Cook Monument, which overlooks the deep-blue waters of the North Sea. This century-old statue honors Captain James Cook, one of the first Europeans to navigate the east coast of Australia and New Zealand. Enjoy the splendid views from the monument. Spot major landmarks of Whitby, the town where Cook trained as a merchant navy apprentice and worked on ships trading to Baltic countries.
British politician Sir Gervase Beckett gifted the statue to the town of Whitby in 1912 and it was unveiled by the admiral Lord Charles Beresford. During World War II it was put into storage while the area was utilized as military base. The plinth suffered severe damage as a result of military activities. Town officials reinstated the statue in 1947.
A 7.5-feet (2.3-meter) tall bronze statue of Captain Cook faces the harbor from a a stone plinth. A carving of Cook’s posthumous coat of arms decorates the front of the plinth. On the rear is a carving of his ship HMS Endeavour, which he sailed to Australia and New Zealand. Plaques and inscriptions commemorate Cook, his voyages and the shipbuilders of Whitby. There are also information signs with historical facts about the explorer.
Stand next to the monument or sit on a bench and gaze toward the harbor, just as the statue does. Spot the two lighthouses and see everything from fishing trawlers to freight ships and kayaks in the water. Snap photos of the pretty houses around the harbor. Set on the clifftop above the harbor is the ruined 13th-century Whitby Abbey, said to be one of the inspirations for Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
Find the Captain Cook Monument in People’s Park, in the West Cliff area. It’s about a 10-minute walk from Whitby railway station. Parking is available for a fee adjacent to the monument. Nearby is the RNLI Whitby Museum, the Whalebone Arch, Whitby Beach and Whitby Pavilion.
