We popped into Captain Cook's Memorial Museum whilst we were in Whitby. We were staying very near this museum (within sight), and it's situated in the house where famous circumnavigator Captain James Cook (1728-79) undertook his seamanship training, apprenticed to Captain John Walker.
The front of the house bears the date 1688, and you enter via the small garden.
The kangaroo sculpture is by Emma Stothard, and is affectionately known as "Stubbsy." He's a reinterpretation of a picture painted on one of Cook's voyages to the Pacific.
This statue commemorates King Kaumuali'i (c.1778-1824), king of the Hawaiian island of Kaua'i.
The house, and the Walker family were Quakers; their style of living very plain and simple.
The first room is about Orientation, and includes a cutaway model of Resolution; one of Cook's ships.
A room about orientation would be incomplete without a globe...
Pacific Navigation. This mnemonic uses shells to represent islands, and sticks to indicate sea swells.
Showing how the world was mapped before Cook's voyages...
Captain Cook was born in Marton, near Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, and was stabbed to death in Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii, after an altercation with locals.
This painting depicts his death.
A portrait of Captain Cook and there is more than one of these in the museum.
After his death, Cook was treated as befitting high ranking people. He was disembowelled and baked, then his bones carefully cleaned for preservation. His remains were eventually returned to his crew for a formal burial at sea. Nice!!!!
The Old Kitchen was discovered recently, and furnished with items listed in an inventory...
This wall hanging recreates the now non-existent hearth.
The Green Room is furnished as being ready for a meal, using an 18th century table and 17th century chairs.
The Green Room is furnished as being ready for a meal, using an 18th century table and 17th century chairs.
The Blue Room is furnished simply, as was the custom with Quakers. There are no pictures on the walls, as per tradition.
But there is a mirror with a Vain Old Tart in it...
The Whitby Room shows a collier-bark situated in the mud at low tide.
Underneath this cloth is the Muster Roll of Walker's ship Freelove, when Cook was an apprentice.
The London Room, and Captain Cook's wife, Elizabeth is the third portrait along. She lived until the age of 93, outliving not just her husband but also all of her six children.
The case contains plaques and medals in commemoration of cook.
This case contains mourning jewellery, objects and documents relating to Elizabeth.
This is a picture of the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich.
I've visited here- it's a huge complex and, during Cook's time, would have been a charitable institution looking after men who'd served in the Royal Navy.
Another Captain James Cook portrait...
In the Voyages Room is a model of Endeavour.
Larger room view, and in the display case are documents pertaining to the fitting out of Resolution, and on the walls works by artists on the voyages.
Map showing the routes of Cook's three voyages:
First Voyage (1768-61) in Endeavour.
Second Voyage (1772-75) in Resolution and Adventure.
Third Voyage (1776-80) in Resolution and Discovery.
Cook was killed during the third voyage.
Here are prints by William Hodges (Second Voyage artist) and John Webber (Third Voyage artist).
The Island of Madeira, 1777, by William Hodges (1744-1797)
Staring out over the harbour. Luckily, we had great weather for all but 15 minutes of our stay in Yorkshire.
The Artists' Room contains a video telling us of the importance of recording via sketches and paintings. I had to take this photo as it depicts Table Mountain, Cape Town, South Africa, and I've stood on top of that!
This room also contains portraits of Admiral William Bligh and his wife Elizabeth. Bligh is best known for his role in the mutiny on the Bounty.
Elizabeth collected exotic shells, and they are in the cabinet underneath.
The museum has a collection of over 700 botanical prints, which can be accessed for research purposes.
The Florilegium is a collection of botanical prints recorded and drawn by Joseph Banks during Cook's First Voyage around the world.
The Scientists' Room also contains a video on a loop, discussing navigation.
A model of Endeavour, with navigational notes and a watch, sandglass and compass.
Instruments of navigation.
Taxidermy...
This desk was used onboard Resolution.
Round landing window on the way to The Attic...
Strict instructions!
Captain Cook would have slept up here, with any other apprentices at the time. He would study any subjects- such as navigation, astronomy and mathematics- that would help him advance through his career.
You can see the chimney rising through the building here...
Closer view of medical artefacts, and macabre little moi would be drawn in by the skull. You also have a wooden leg, a magnifying glass and medicine bottles.
Surgeon's chest, and health on board a ship is discussed...
Leech paraphernalia and dental extraction forceps...
Scurvy explained, and Cook proudly did not lose a single man to scurvy on his voyages.
Long voyage health impacts- including journeys into space- are looked at here...
This section also looks to the future, and details medical stations in space...
Modern medical implements...
Astronauts' foods...
View from the round window down onto the garden...
...This takes in more of the harbour...
View down into The Old Kitchen...
First Floor Link, with artworks by William Hodges and John Webber.
Viewfinder...
These beautiful antique engravings are for sale...
To The Ends of the Earth is the final exhibition room, and shows a model of the Endeavor's stove...
Typical food on board a ship, and note that we have both a cat and a rat. Ship's cats served an essential role onboard a ship- their job was to keep the vermin population down!
The Captain Cook Memorial on Whitby's West Cliff is made of bronze. The figure is 7 feet 6 inches (2.3 metres) tall, stands on a freestone pedestal and dates back to 1912.
Oh, and there's a SuperDean getting into shot, too!
The view over to the 199 steps, St Mary's Church and Whitby Abbey, through Whitby Whalebone Arch. A whalebone arch has stood here since 1853, and this version dates back to 2003.
The whalebones are jawbones, serve as a reminder of Whitby's whaling past, and the "arrow" on the top is actually a harpoon.
Whitby Swing Bridge dates from 1909, but the River Esk has had bridges crossing it at this location for centuries.
We took a boat ride out of the harbour. It's a half hour trip just outside the harbour and down the coast then back again, but it only costs £5 and is certainly worth it.
Here is the swing bridge opening to allow a boat through.
The Bark Endeavour is a replica of Captain Cook's HMS Endeavour, and it has the Orlop Restaurant onboard, serving food and drink.
The Bark Endeavour also offers sea trips. As you can tell, we were on a different boat.
St Mary's Church, high on the clifftop. Whitby Abbey is directly behind it but it's kind of obliterated on this photo.
This memorial bench on West Cliff is dedicated to Sophie Lancaster (1986-2007). Sophie and her boyfriend, Robert, were horrifically attacked by a group of five youths in a Lancashire park, and the trigger was thought to be their goth style of dress. Robert survived the attack, but Sophie later died in hospital.
Sophie's mother, Sylvia, fought to have attacks on individuals belonging to a subculture added to hate crime legislation; in the same way it's applied to those who attack someone due to their race, sexuality or because of their disability. It's only right that this law should apply, but I think the truth of the matter is that Sophie and Robert were attacked simply because their attackers were scum. We've all met the type- insecure, follow-the-crowd, "sheep" people who cannot understand, and who are jealous of, those living their best life and expressing themselves in whatever way they choose.
Sylvia Lancaster founded the Sophie Lancaster Foundation in an attempt to educate people that looking and being different is okay, and not something to fear. The foundation uses an acronym of Sophie's name- Stamp Out Prejudice Hatred and Intolerance Everywhere.
Here's my S.O.P.H.I.E. wristband.
With that I will say goodbye.
I've also blogged about Whitby Abbey, link:-
...And Whitby Museum, and both blogs give you added Whitby info, link:-
Until next time,
TTFN
Miss Elaineous
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