Sunday, 23 January 2011

WISHING CHAIR UPDATE

As a supplementary detail to our previous post about the Wishing Chair on Stakesby Road, here is what English Heritage say about the site. It explains the shape of the chair and why it is situated at that particular point.

'Medieval cross base situated at the junction of Stakesby Road and Westbourne Road. It is the remains of a mile cross marking the approach to Whitby Abbey. It comprises a block of local sandstone 0.58m wide and 0.55m deep. There is an oblong depression, 0.34m by 0.25m and 0.24m deep cut into the top to serve as a socket. The N edge of the socket has broken away to form what looks like a chair. A modern cross commemorating the 1957 Festival of Britain has been set up on the opposite side of the road, this also marks the mile bounds of the Abbey. '

The cross commemorating the 1951 Festival of Britain

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1 comment:

  1. Unknown22 November 2016 at 20:37

    I thought this might be of interest to you:
    The Yorkshire Post and Leeds Mercury.
    Wednesday, August 8, 1951.
    Cross unveiled.
    In pouring rain at Whitby yesterday the Archbishop of York (Dr Cyril Garbett) dedicated a Cross erected by the Prioress of the Order of the Holy Parcelete, Sneaton Castle to commemorate The Festival of Britain. The Cross is at the junction of Love Lane and Stakesby Road.
    Rain began to fall as a procession of robed clergy approached the site, where a large congregation, including the Marquess and Marchioness of Normanby, Mr Alec Spearman, M.P for Scarborough and Whitby, and Mrs Speaarman had assembled.
    The Cross was unveiled by Councillor H. Paylor, chairman of Whitby Urban Council, and the Archbishop gave an address. Alderman R. Smailes, of the North Riding County Council and Councillor J.E. Raw, Chairman of Whitby Rural Council, also took part in the Service.

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