Whitby's Whale Arch Gets Bronze Makeover

Whitby's renowned Whale Bone Arch, a significant landmark on West Cliff, is scheduled for replacement. The existing structure, made from genuine whale jawbones first erected in 1964 and later replaced in 2002, has suffered severe deterioration from coastal weather. North Yorkshire Council will take down the 19ft (5.8m) arch in September to create a mould for a bronze replica of the same size.

The new bronze arch, estimated to cost £70,000, is expected to be installed early next year. This decision follows challenges in sourcing new genuine whale bones due to ethical, legal, and logistical complexities. The council cited difficulties in finding suitable real bones and the prohibitive legislation involved in international transport.

The current jawbones will be gifted to the University of York for research, with a section also displayed at Whitby Museum alongside remnants from the original arch. The original bones, dating back to 1964, were from a whale killed in Antarctic waters and donated by a Norwegian whaling company. Despite the historical association with whaling, the arch remains a popular and vital symbol for marketing the seaside town.