Picture Post: Wave of visitors for Staithes, courtesy of children’s TV show

Formerly one of the main fishing centres in England, the industry might not be what it once was, but this small corner of Yorkshire continues to attract attention.

Recently, Staithes has provided the backdrop for the CBeebies series Old Jack’s Boat, starring Bernard Cribbins. Known for his work on as narrator of The Wombles, he is no stranger to children’s television. Old Jack’s Boat follows the story of a retired fisherman who tells stories from his time at sea, helped by his eccentric friends in the village.

Earlier this year the village was treated to an exclusive premiere of the second series which was hosted by Welcome to Yorkshire and CBeebies.

Local schoolchildren and officials watched an episode together and since the first series was screened last year, Staithes has benefited from increased tourism

Hundreds of families who watch the show have been drawn to see the fishing village for themselves and learn something of the area.

The cliffs have long been popular with geologists who have discovered rare fossils dating from Jurassic times, like the dinosaur found after a rockfall between Staithes and Port Mulgrave in the 1990s.

Conscious that they need to ensure a healthy stream of visitors, two years ago a group of villagers launched the Staithes Heritage and Arts Festival.

The event, which now runs each year in September, sees many of the cottages turned into temporary art galleries and is an opportunity for Staithes to promote its rich history and tradition as well as celebrating its bright future.

Nikon D3s camera, 17-55mm lens, exposure 2 sec @F5.6, 800 ISO.

Picture: Gerard Binks

Words: Jemma Barratt