Bombardment Garden

Walking along the picturesque cliff edge of Whitby, visitors are treated to beautiful seaside views alongside the many tourists that flock to the town. 

However, an unexpected site found just a few feet behind the iconic Captain Cook statue is a recreated house that stands as a reminder to the bombardment of the town during World War I.

In 1914, Whitby came under attack just after 9 a.m. on the morning of December 16th when two enemy battle cruisers, weighing 25,000 tons each, emerged from the mist. This was known as the Raid on Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby. The ships unloaded close to 100 shells onto the small and historic fishing town.

The 11-inch shells fired from the warships caused massive structural damages and destroyed homes. Amazingly, only two people died as a result of the attack. 

A century later in 2014, the local community decided to mark the attack and honor the people of Whitby by creating this unique, eyecatching, and educational tribute to the resiliency Whitby residents. 

The house resembles a 1914 era home that was greatly damaged during the war. The interior includes an old fashioned sink and fireplace. Perhaps the most notable object on display is the shell lodged deep into the floor of the living room. 

Although this house never actually existed, it’s a stark reminder of the horrors of war and the loss that people faced as a result. This is an interesting tribute to a dark period of history.