Whitby's famous whalebone arch taken down for 'ethical' replacement in bronze
Whitby’s whalebone arch has been taken down, to be replaced by a replica cast in bronze.
The first whalebone arch on Whitby’s West Cliff was erected in 1853 to celebrate the town's rich 18th and 19th-century Arctic whaling industry.
The original bones rotted over time and were replaced in 1963 with jawbones from Norway and again in 2003 – this time with jawbones from a Bowhead whale, gifted by native Alaskan Inuit.
The current arch, which frames the famous views towards Whitby Abbey and attracts thousands of visitors a year, was getting to the stage when it needed replacing again.
North Yorkshire Council say the bronze replicas “provide an ethical alternative” to the use of whale bones.
The council said feedback from residents and visitors backed the replacement in bronze as the most fitting option to reflect the internationally recognised symbol of the town.
Councillor Mark Crane, whose responsibilities include harbours, said: "The whale bone arch is one of Whitby's most treasured landmarks and an important part of the town's maritime heritage.
“The removal of the arch is a landmark day in the town’s recent history, as visitors have flocked to see and photograph the bones for over two decades.
"Importantly, the bronze replicas provide an ethical alternative to the use of whale bones, allowing this iconic landmark and its connection to Whitby's maritime heritage to be preserved in a way that reflects modern conservation values.”
The council said bronze was chosen as it will withstand the conditions on West Cliff and over time it should develop a natural patina.
The new arch will be installed early next year and will be made by making moulds from the existing bones and manufacturing a bespoke internal framework.
Whitby Town Mayor, Cllr Sandra Turner, said there had been a few complaints from people who would like to have witnessed the arch coming down, but said the bones needed be as complete as possible for the moulds to be made.
She said: “My personal view is that if the public had been made aware there are people out there who would take a little bit for a souvenir.
"We will be keeping a little bit of them for display in Whitby and the rest will go to York University for research.”
She added: “Nobody would support a whale being killed for an arch. A bronze replica is a way of remembering our heritage while not doing any harm to creatures.”