Whitby has many fine Georgian houses, some of which will be pointed out during the one- and- a- half hour's guided walk on the west side of the town on Sunday (pre-book on or before Saturday at 01947 600720): for those especially interested in Georgian architechture Union Place in Upgang Lane with its distinctive bottle window and ornate plasterwork and fireplaces will be open on both days. An older Whitby can be seen with 17th and 18th century cottages in the yards tucked away off the main streets in the town. Three yards off Church Street will be open to view on both days and some of the cottages may be entered; residents will be available to talk to visitors. Residents will also be available to talk to visitors on Saturday afternoon at the Cragg on the west side of the town up a steep flight of steps opposite the bandstand. Here along a lane parallel to the harbourside many of the original fishermen's cottages have been knocked down but some remain as a reminder of times past.
Six of the local churches will be open to the public over the weekend, presenting an interesting contrast of style and history: St Hilda's Church on the West Cliff, Flowergate United Reformed Church, St Hilda's Roman Catholic Church in Brunswick Street, St Ninian's Church in Baxtergate, the Church of St John the Evangelist in Brunswick Street and the almost hidden Unitarian chapel in Flowergate. This year is the centenary of the death of one of the Chapel's most notorious ministers, Rev. Francis Haydn Williams, who was often in trouble with the law over his support for commoners' rights and, to celebrate his life, there will be a special exhibition at the chapel and a talk by Rev Margaret Kirk on Sunday at 3pm: everyone welcome.
Other sites open to the public over the weekend include Abbey House, a grade 1 listed building near the Abbey now converted into a youth hostel, which displays many historic features from the 12th century onwards. Guided tours are available. The Victoria Spa Well House hidden away at the back of Broomfield Terrace is still unknown to many residents. It is no longer in use and at the bottom of a private garden is sometimes mistaken for a pigeon loft but in the 19th century it was regarded as an important health-giving spa and as such was highly decorated in the style of the time. It will be open on both days. The original Jet Workshop on view in Church Street is the only remaining one left in Whitby although, just after the death of Prince Albert when jet jewellery was so popular, many cottages had their own workshops and jet working was an important source of income for many families. The workshop shows the many skills needed and the conditions under which the people worked. Whitby Museum in the newly improved Pannett Park is considered by many to be one of the best town museums in the country: it will be open free to the public on Saturday 11th.
Opening times for all the events and a simple map of the different sites are included in the leaflet which is obtainable from the Tourist Office from September 1st (see also the national directory www.heritageopendays.org.uk) Home