HITBY, a seaport town in the north riding of the county of York, in a locality distinguished as the Liberties of Whitby Strand, 242 miles from London. It stands at the mouth of the river Eske, which divides it into two parts; and it consists of several streets, which are steep and
narrow. The mouth of the river forms the harbour, which is protected from the fury of the ocean by two outer and inner piers. Adjoining the inner harbour are spacious dock-yards and dry docks. The trade of the town is extensive, many ships being employed in the coal and free-stone trade; and near it are some extensive alum-works, which add to its commerce. The business of ship-building is carried on, and, with the subsidiary branches connected with it, creates occupation for a large class of the inhabitants. Whitby is a place of great antiquity, as there are records of a convent having been built there by Oswy, king of Northumberland, in the seventh century; which was afterwards destroyed by the Danes, and was restored to its former splendour after the Norman conquest. The town has, by the act of 1832, received the right of returning one member to the House of Commons. It has no corporate body. There are places of worship for the various bodies of dissenters, and also a number of benevolent institutions for the relief of the destitute. The market is on Saturday, and is well supplied with all provisions. The population amounted in 1821 to 8697, and 1831 to 7765.