The town council says ‘ALL realistic avenues’ for replacing Whitby’s Whale Bone Arch with real whale bones have been exhausted.
The feature, which is one of the town’s “most enjoyed landmarks”, has stood at the top of West Cliff for more than 170 years, but despite being replaced in 2002 the structure is deteriorating.
A plan to find genuine replacement bones has been abandoned, however, after “all realistic avenues for sourcing replacement natural whalebones have now been exhausted”.
“In light of this, the only viable option available is to commission high-quality replicas,” a report by Whitby Town Council states.
The Mayor of Whitby, Cllr Sandra Turner, said:
“North Yorkshire Council has looked at all the avenues, which we knew were remote and difficult, to say the least, and there isn’t a set of whale bones available.
“Obviously, we would never condone any whales being killed so that we could have a set of whale bones, that’s always been the stance from day one.”
“The position is now to go out and look for what would be the best replica set that can be obtained.
“North Yorkshire Council is fully on board with replacing them, and it will be a question of what is going to be the best substitute,”
The last replacement bones came from Whitby’s twin town of Barrow in Alaska after a worldwide appeal, from a whale that was killed legally by native Inuit in 1996.
It is understood that Alaskan authorities had been “trying to speak to those involved previously at North Slope Borough (Barrow).”
North Yorkshire Council (NYC) is now in the process of seeking quotations for a range of replica options, including consideration of materials, durability, cost, and long-term maintenance implications.
Speaking to the LDRS, Mayor Turner praised NYC for its support and assistance with the project.
“We’re going to wait now and see what comes back on costings and what possibility there is for a replica set, and then the decision will be taken.
“I know what I would rather have, but it isn’t up to me, it’s up to everyone else.”
Asked what the timeline was for sourcing the replacement, the mayor of Whitby said she hoped “things can move along swiftly enough that we would have a replacement set by the end of the summer at the latest, but I can’t say that’s written in stone”.
North Yorkshire Council will pay for the replacement replica, Cllr Turner said.
She added:
“North Yorkshire Council has been absolutely brilliant and we’ll be getting an updated report very soon, and then we’ll see what the situation is for the replicas.”
North Yorkshire Police Issue Travel Warning As Stormy Weather Disrupts The Yorkshire Coast
Record-Breaking Summer Expected for Scarborough Open Air Theatre
Water Minister Says ‘Come And Enjoy Seaside’ In Scarborough Despite Water Quality Concerns
Village Infrastructure Under Strain: Hunmanby Councillor Calls for Second Home Tax Flexibility
Council Sets Out Ten-Year Plan for Scarborough, Whitby and Filey Harbours
Northern Powergrid Teams Responding as Blustery Winds hit Yorkshire Coast Power Supplies
Bridlington Businesses Urged To Spread Festive Cheer For Bridmas Day 2026
MP Steps-in To Help Farmers Affected By The Langdale Moor Wildfire
Yorkshire Coast Families Invited To Access Easter Holiday Activity Programme
Thousands Of Disabled People In Hull And East Riding To Be Supported Into Work
Scarborough Man Runs 5k Around Car with a Horse to Help Paralysed Woman Get Home
‘No Records’ On Ownership Of Scarborough Town Centre Clock With Possible £20,000 Repair Bill
Comments
Add a comment