Not the most brilliant weather, but on the other hand, it’s dry, it’s not cold, and we’re on holiday with our cousins! Today after the usual leisurely breakfast and chat and look at the sea which is just opposite the cottage we’re staying in, we’re off to Staithes, which is a little fishing village, now a tourist destination, just north of us here in Whitby on the north east coast of Yorkshire. I describe Staithes as a little fishing village, but it was once one of the most important along this coast!
It is an enchanting little place of higgledy-piggledy streets, tiny winding lanes and alleys, and set at the bottom of a steep descent from where cars have to be parked. One of Staithes most famous residents was Captain Cook, he who sailed the world, exploring, charting, discovering, a great captain who took care of his men. He was one of the first to recognize the problems of scurvy, vitamin C deficiency which plagued sailors in the olden days.
Staithes’ sheltered harbour, protected by high cliffs offered protection to fishing boats and other vessels. As with other villages along this coast, there is industry exploiting the minerals here, iron, alum and potash. Jet can be found along the beach, and there are more fossils than you could imagine to be found in the cliffs!
Staithes is a favourite place of artists and painters, and while we were there we saw maybe a couple of dozen people with easels set up and palates in hand! In the nineteenth century there was a famous set called the Staithes Group or the Northern Impressionists.
For all its attractive quality and curious and interesting features, it’s impossible not to think back to the lives of people in former times, which must have been so very hard.
Were the villagers also very tiny?
Lois Elsden 
One Sunday morning, many years ago, I walked along the cliffs from Saltburn and discovered Staithes. I didn’t even know it existed. Lovely place.
LikeLike
Such a lovely area… I keep looking a houses for sale there!
LikeLike