Whitby’s Whale Bone Arch is one of the seaside town’s most iconic landmarks, enjoyed by thousands. And if, like us, you’ve tried to get a snap with it on a busy weekend, it’s one you’ll often have to queue for. That being said, its future remains uncertain as North Yorkshire Council outlines the issues involved in replacing the landmark.
Located on the other side of the harbour and facing another Whitby icon, the Whale Bone Arch is deteriorating. Whitby Town Council has formally asked North Yorkshire Council to undertake “urgent investigations” into the future of the whalebones. Options being considered include replacement, refurbishment, or alternatives such as a replica, according to the York Press.
The original whale jawbone arch was erected after 1853, and the current set was installed in 2002 after a worldwide appeal. They came from Whitby’s twin town of Barrow, Alaska, and were taken from a whale legally killed by native Inuit in 1996.
Chris Bourne, North Yorkshire Council’s head of harbours and coastal infrastructure, has highlighted issues including locating a new set of whale jawbones: “It would be likely the bones would be in a very remote location on the Arctic ice-shelf, and there would have to be a willingness for the residents to recover and move them to a suitable location,” he said.
Once procured, the bones would need to be cleaned before being transported by a logistics company, and obtaining the correct permissions to import them into the UK has been described as the biggest hurdle.
Cultural concerns also inform the decision. And. alternatives are now being explored, including imitation whale bones accompanied by an information board outlining the history of the iconic landmark.
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