Dracula's Grave, Whitby??

In the graveyard of St Marys Church, next to the Abbey, in Whitby is a gravestone marked with a scull and crossbones. It is heavily weathered but the carving can still be seen.

Some say that this is the grave of Dracula.

There are, however, other graves in the cemetery which are also marked with a deaths head and it is said that these mark the final resting places of pirates.

Those who died in poverty and were subject to a paupers funeral were believed also to have their graves identified in this way.

Others (hereafter referred to as 'spoilsports') insist that these graves belong to Puritans and that the scull and bones is simply a reference to death from a time before any macabre meaning became applied to the symbol, much in the same way Angels are regarded today.

Take your pick as to which you choose to believe, but I vote pirates!

T'Tour!!

The start of a cycling race is taking place in Northern England this summer. 

According to my rough translation this initial part is known as "The Big Set Off", and it is the first stage of some annual event that passes through foreign lands such as France and West Yorkshire. 

The residents of Skipton seem to be getting quite excited about it and, doubtlessly, the local Lycra vendors and drug dealears will make a fortune over the course of the activities. 

Here's a sheep painted to celebrate the event.

A horse, a horse... where can I park my horse?

There must be something about King Richard III and car parks....

King Richard III, defeated at Bosworth Field - his body was found in Leicester under a car park last year. 

King Richard III Wall (the old town wall), Scarborough, North Yorkshire - now a car park. 

I know there is a big debate at the moment as to whether KR3's remains should be left in Leicestershire (at Leicester Cathedral) , or returned to his Yorkist roots (to York Minster). 

Here, however, is the ideal compromise. Stick him under the Pay & Display at the end of Castle Road in Scarborough......just next to that black Astra should be fine.  

Pier to Pier #2

Walking out to the harbour lighthouse on the Scarborough inner East Pier, we found a mini bridge. Although it looked as though it belonged in a scene from Raiders Of The Lost Ark, we risked it and returned via the outer East Pier.
Photo of lighthouse, naval gun, Bathing Belle & St. Mary's church.

Time (for a brew) Team

Whitby Abbey excavation of suspected medieval chapel and graves. Radio Carbon Dating indicates that the site dates to circa 640ad which is around the time of the Whitby Synod and means Anglicans were present earlier than originally thought.
It appeared to be brew time as none of the archaeologists could be found and trowels had been well and truly downed.

Pier to Pier

Whitby panoramas.
Across the harbour and town towards the West Pier, whilst standing on the East Pier.
Whitby from the graveyard of St. Marys Church.
The Abbey from the inside.

Scalby Mills

North of Scarborough, where the freshwater Scalby Beck runs into the North Sea.

Munch's Scream, or Munch Ice Cream??

Spotted on the Promenade at Bridlington East Yorkshire. 

Amongst a collection of paintings with a seaside theme by local schoolchildren, is this fantastic play on words. 

Panoramic Viewpoints Resurrect The Chilling Cold.

Not quite as warm as it looks, thanks to the 'Wind Chill Factor', two shots of Scarborough using the newly discovered Panoramic Photo feature of my Sony Xperia z1.
One is the town between the bays from the Castle, the other is South Bay from the beach (Grand Hotel centre, Spa/Suicide Bridge to the left, Olympia Leisure/Fantasy Forest to the right). 

Actually, it's quicker to plummet......

...... but that's not advised.

At the top of the McBean Steps on St. Nicholas Cliff in Scarborough, is this rather impressive wall painting. Presented in the style of 1930's British Railway posters, it is a giant advert for the Cliff Lift (or Tram) service to the beach.
Not as quick as throwing yourself off the top, but certainly less messy when you arrive.