The Abbey Headland, Whitby, North Yorkshire

Two very ancient monuments..The earliest one survives and in the 21 st century this beautiful XII century Norman structure serves the community of Whitby as the town's Parish Church of Saint Mary's.
The newer building of the XIII and XIV century is the ruined Benedictine Abbey of Saint Hilda and was abandoned following the dissolution of the monasteries.

Within a few years, the beautiful abbey was plundered for its lead roofs and carved sandstone blocks..Ruination soon followed..However, it stands proudly against the elements and will survive many hundreds of years under the care of English Heritage. It even survived a shelling from german pocket battleships during WW 1 .
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