A Benedictine monastery, formerly called Streoneshalh, in North Yorkshire, was founded about 657 A.D., as a double monastery, one for men and one for women, by Oswy, King of Northumberland.
The first abbess was St. Hilda, under whom the community seems to have reached a considerable size, the conventual buildings being large enough to accommodate the Synod of Whitby, held in 664 A.D., which determined the controversy respecting the observance of Easter and other differences between the Northumbrian Celtic and Roman persuasions of the Catholic Church. Whitby Abbey was also home to the great Saxon poet Caedmon.
On St. Hilda's death, about 680 A.D., Aelfleda, daughter of King Oswy, succeeded as abbess, and the monastery continued to flourish until about 687 A.D., when it was entirely destroyed by the Danes.
It was rebuilt in 1078 and lasted until the Dissolution when it was destroyed by Henry VIII in 1540.
About Whitby
English Heritage: Whitby Abbey
New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia: Abbey of Whitby
Wikipedia: Whitby Abbey
New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia: Synod of Whitby
Wikipedia: Hilda of Whitby
Wikipedia: Caedmon
Wikipedia: Wilfrid
New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Finan
Wikipedia: Benedictines
Journey to Whitby
Whitby Abbey is located on a bluff overlooking the city of Whitby in North Yorkshire on the east coast of England at the intersection of the A171 and the A174.
Streemap UK (NGR NZ9016011313)
Visitors Information
Visitors information may be found at the English Heritage Whitby Abbey website. General tourist information is at the Welcome to Yorkshire website.
Additional Photos of Whitby
Whitby Abbey on the Cliffs Above Whitby
Start of 199 Steps from Town to Cliffs and Whitby Abbey
Descriptive Sign at Whitby Abbey
The Back of Whitby Abbey from the Pond
South Side of Whitby Abbey
Outside East Wall of Church, Whitby Abbey
North Transept (left) of the Church, Whitby Abbey
The Choir Enclosure from the South, Whitby Abbey
North Transept of Church, Whitby Abbey
Outside East Wall of Church, Whitby Abbey
South Arcade of the Choir Enclosure, Whitby Abbey
Top of North Arcade in the Choir Enclosure, Whitby Abbey
North Arcade of the Choir Enclosure, Whitby Abbey
Columns in the Choir, Whitby Abbey
Columns in the Choir, Whitby Abbey
Remainder of Column in the Choir, Whitby Abbey
Close-Up of Column, Whitby Abbey
Surviving Section of the Nave Arcade, Whitby Abbey
Arch in the North Aisle Wall, Whitby Abbey
Arch in the North Aisle Wall, Whitby Abbey
Caedmon's Cross Near Whitby Abbey
St. Caedmon on Caedmon's Cross Near Whitby Abbey
St. Hilda on Caedmon's Cross Near Whitby Abbey
Detail on Caedmon's Cross Near Whitby Abbey
Caedmon's Cross Near Whitby Abbey with Whitby in the Background
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