Waberthwaite
This tiny church sited on the banks of the River Esk, consists of a single chamber, ie; the church is basically a single room from end to end. It is generally accepted that this church has 12th or 13th century foundations, although much of what can be seen today is of the 15th century and later, for example the vestry, dating from the late 18th century.
There are several interesting items still visible at the church.
Outside is a tall standing cross shaft. It’s estimated that this could date from around 850 to 1000AD The cross shaft bears the images of horses and people interwoven with celtic knots and weave work.
The other cross shaft lays within the church, and is probably dates from the same period as the standing one. This stone once formed part of the threshold of the church and as such has suffered under the feet of countless worshipers and is now nearly blank.
Hung on the North wall are the Royal coats of arms of George III, dated 1778.
In the West wall there is a 15th century window, although this dating does not include the stained glass window, indeed the only stained glass window in this small church. The other windows all date from the 16th and 17th centuries.
The pulpit is carved from oak, and is dated 1628.
Either side of the stained glass window are two huge wooden tablets, containing the Apostle’s Creed and the Lord’s prayer, and the Ten Commandments. It became law in 1561 for all churches to display the Commandments, and this dating, together with the style of lettering used, possibly suggests some time in the late 16th century as their dating.
The church has three bells in total. Two are hung in the tiny bell cote on the West wall of the church, whilst the third is sat on the window sill of the West window. The two bells mounted in the bell cote are thought to be from the late 15th century, and one is inscribed in Latin with “Saint James Sir Thomas Walker”. This inscription is thought to relate to the possible dedication of the first church at Waberthwaite to St James, and also to Sir Thomas Walker, who was Rector at the church from 1439. The second bell is inscribed with “King Henry VI”. This strange inscription is possibly related to the fact that the king sought refuge at near by Muncaster Castle after the battle of Towton in 1461. The third bell is dated 1882, and comes from the now demolished church of St Luke at Waberthwaite which was pulled down when the building became unsafe.
The castle was most likely established by William de Percy sometime in the 11th century.
The church fell into disrepair in the past, and the Sexton was required to “keep the church and pews cleanly swept and sufficiently dried” in 1879. A new chancel was built in 1892, the money required being raised by public subscription. Further work was done in 1920, and yet more in 1997 when the vestry, kitchen and toilets were built.
Two items of interest exist inside and outside the church. One is the squint, the hole in the wall that joins the nave and the South aisle. This enabled those sat in the aisle to see the vicar as he preached his sermon, and for the vicar to see the congregration. The leper hole in the East wall of the church, is clearly visible from the outside of the building, and also through to the interior just above the altar.
In 664, the abbey was the chosen site of a Synod that would later become known as the Synod of Whitby, a meeting of Roman and Ionean clerics. The Northumbrian Celtic Christian king Oswy eventually ruled that his kingdom would observe the traditions and customs of Rome rather than the Irish monks of Iona, changing the face of Christianity in the North East of England. 
In 867 the site was almost completely destroyed by Danish raiders and subsequently abandoned. Indeed, such was the destruction, that the abbey was not re-founded until 211 years later, in 1087. The new abbey was rebuilt by a soldier called Regenfrith, on the orders of William de Percy. This abbey lasted until 1540, when Henry VIII destroyed the abbey and all those around the country during the English Reformation. On the 14th of December, 1539, the abbey was handed over to Henry VIII’s commissioners, under the Dissolution of the Monasteries act. William Davell was the last abbot of Whitby, and he passed a community worth £437 to the crown. The buildings and the grounds were leased to Richard Cholmley in March of 1540. His family took up residence in the Abbot’s lodges. Landscaped gardens were planted and the house was extended. These gardens and the house now form the backbone of the English Heritage visitor’s centre. During the 17th century, the extension to the house lost its roof in a violent storm and was never repaired. The building eventually collapsed, along with major parts of the abbey’s church….firstly the nave in 1762, and then the tower in 1830.
The remains that can be seen today, were probably started in the 1220’s, replacing the earlier buildings, the foundation lines of which can still be seen in the grass. The early medieval gothic structure of the abbey are similar in design to the whole of, or parts of similar buildings of the time such as Glasgow Cathedral and the transepts of York Minster. The abbey would have been a highly decorative building, painted and with many stained glass windows. All these have gone now, and the elaborate carving is all that remains to demonstrate the amount of creative effort that was invested here.
The West front of the abbey was originally an impressive façade facing out over the town below it, and was reputedly still standing in the late 1700’s. Some parts of the masonry began to deteriorate from this time on, and with the help of a sea borne attack by German navy ships, completely collapsed in 1914. During excavations in the 1920’s Saxon tomb stones were unearthed, giving an insight into the first abbey of 657. Some of these tomb stones have been left in situ, and some have been moved to the visitor’s centre. The site is not only a great historical place to visit, but it offers great views out across the sea over Whitby and beyond. I would strongly recommend climbing the 199 steps up to the church of St Mary, paying a visit to this medieval church, and then making your way to the abbey. 
The courtyard, now enclosed in a glass sun room, has spectacular pillared walls with original, possibly medieval windows still in situ. 
To the South of the castle, the 18th\19th century haha wall is still intact, preventing cattle from entering the grounds of the castle, whilst preserving the view out across the fields. 
