Whitby Abbey

Reinfrid, a soldier of William the Conqueror, became a monk and travelled to Streoneshalh, which was then known as Prestebi or Hwitebi (the "white settlement" in Old Norse). He approached William de Percy who gave him the ruined monastery of St. Peter with two carucates of land, to found a new monastery. Serlo de Percy, the founder's brother, joined Reinfrid at the new monastery which followed the Benedictine rule.[9]

 

The second monastery lasted until it was destroyed by Henry VIII in 1540 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Though the abbey fell into ruin, it remained a prominent landmark for sailors and helped inspire Bram Stoker's Dracula.[10] The ruins are now owned and maintained by English Heritage.

 

In December 1914, Whitby Abbey was shelled by German battlecruisers Von der Tann and Derfflinger[11] who were aiming for the Coastguard Station[12][13] on the end of the headland. Scarborough and Hartlepool were also attacked.[14] The Abbey sustained considerable damage during the ten-minute attack. The BBC included before and after photographs as part of the First World War centenar

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