Whitby in North Yorkshire in the 1970s

This film was taken on standard 8mm Kodachrome film by a family taking a holiday in the North Yorkshire town of Whitby in 1973.

When it came to identifying the location this film was taken in, it turned out to be quite easy because there are several clues as the film progresses. The initial opening scene, with the long shot across the sea shows the lighthouse at the end of the stone sea wall and I thought I recognised it as Whitby at that point. A bit later on, there is a stone plaque with the words, ‘Whitby and Whaling’ which confirmed it so I didn’t need the other striking clue which is the large Whale Bone Arch which occurs just at the end.

The film came in a boxed 5 inch reel which included several other interesting scenes which I will probably publish at a later date on Vintage Home Movies. The writing on the box said, ‘Hols 1973’ so I’ve categorized this films as being from the 1970s, which is probably accurate, although it may not have been shot specifically in 1973. The reel also had a beach holiday in Palma Nova, and I think possibly that was the film taken in 1973.

One of the main reasons I found this film interesting is because I visited Whitby on a school trip at what must have been about the same time. It was when I was in the final year of secondary school, so about 1975 and I remember visiting the Abbey where Dracula is supposedly buried((Yes I know Dracula is a fictional character, but I remember thinking at the time there was some connection between Whitby and Dracula’s grave. )) and the long stone staircase you have to climb to get to the Abbey on a hill.

I also remember running about the beach, but it was sometime out of season and pretty cold!