Battery Parade

My walk continued to Battery Parade, named after the battery of cannon that was sited here in 1740 to protect the harbour both from the French, and also during the time of the American War of Independence, when John Paul Jones fired on the town from the ship, Bonhomme Richard. It is said that the firing of the battery at this time contributed to the great landslide which destroyed part of Henrietta Street on Christmas Eve, 1787.

The batteries are closely connected with the piers which were built at around the same time to prevent the accumulation of sand at the harbour mouth. West pier ends with two cylindrical towers which were used for storing gunpowder.

I carried on past the Coffee House Steps, named because of their proximity to the Marine Hotel. This was one of the first coffee houses in Whitby, a place to do business. Many of Whitby's ship owners would meet here to discuss future voyages and shake on lucrative deals.

I then walked across the swing bridge to continue my explorations on the other side of the Esk estuary.Read more