About
Whitby Museum is one of the most remarkable and individual small museums in England, housed in a building that has occupied its corner of Pannett Park since 1931. It is run by the Whitby Literary and Philosophical Society, one of the oldest such learned societies in the country, founded in 1823 — making it a community institution of extraordinary longevity and independence.
The museum's character is emphatically Victorian, both in atmosphere and in the nature of its collections. Entering is like stepping back into the great age of popular natural philosophy and eclectic curiosity. Original mahogany and glass cases display a bewildering variety of objects — fossils, minerals, jet carvings, ship models, ethnographic curiosities, natural history specimens, and historical artefacts — arranged with the confident eclecticism of an age that believed everything worth knowing could ultimately be housed and classified under one roof.
Whitby's long history as a fossil-hunting coast is richly represented. The museum holds thousands of specimens from the Jurassic strata of the surrounding cliffs and shores, including ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, ammonites, and remarkable fossil plants. These collections have scientific significance as well as aesthetic appeal, representing decades of careful local collecting.
The Whitby jet collection is among the finest anywhere. Jet — fossilised wood unique to the Whitby area — was carved into jewellery and mourning ornaments from the Bronze Age through to the Victorian period, when a Whitby jet industry employing hundreds of craftspeople flourished in the town. The museum traces this industry through raw jet, workshop tools, and exquisite finished pieces.
The museum's most famous single object is the Hand of Glory — a preserved human hand, reputedly used in witchcraft to paralyse sleeping households. One of only two such objects surviving in any English museum, it represents the darker and more mysterious corners of the collection and never fails to stop visitors in their tracks.
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Plan Your Visit
⏱️ Recommended Visit Duration
📅 Best Times to Visit
💡 Visitor Tips
- Ask to see the Hand of Glory — it is one of the strangest and most extraordinary objects in any English museum and not to be missed.
- Combine with the adjacent Pannett Art Gallery (free) for a comprehensive half-day in Pannett Park at very low cost.
- The museum is quieter in the mornings and during term time. Avoid peak weekend afternoons in summer when visitor numbers can be high.
- Whitby railway station is a pleasant 10-minute walk from Pannett Park through the town. The Esk Valley Line from Middlesbrough is a scenic journey worth taking.
- Children love hunting for their favourite fossil in the cases and learning about the Hand of Glory. The eclectic mix of objects means there is something to fascinate every age group.
- After the museum, walk down to the harbour to see the fishing boats and then up the 199 steps to Whitby Abbey for the full Whitby experience.
- The Victorian display cases photograph beautifully. Please avoid flash in the fossil galleries to protect the specimens.
- The ground floor galleries are accessible. If mobility is a concern, contact the museum in advance and staff will ensure you see as much of the collection as possible.
Highlights
Discover the unique exhibits and collections at this museum.
Collections
The museum holds approximately 30,000 objects spanning geology, palaeontology, natural history, maritime history, social history, ethnography, and decorative arts. The fossil collections — numbering several thousand specimens — have scientific as well as aesthetic value. The jet collection is considered one of the most significant in England.
Fossils of the Yorkshire Coast
Extensive Jurassic fossil collections from the Whitby area including marine reptiles, ammonites, and fossil plants.
Whitby Jet — The Black Gem
The history of Whitby jet from the Bronze Age through the Victorian industry to the present day.
Maritime Whitby
Ship models, navigational instruments, and Captain Cook connections celebrating Whitby's shipbuilding and seafaring heritage.
The Hand of Glory and Curiosities
The museum's famous Hand of Glory alongside other historical curiosities, folklore objects, and the eclectic collections of the Victorian era.
Natural History Galleries
Victorian taxidermy and natural history specimens displayed in original mahogany cases.
Themes
Time Periods
Current Exhibitions
No current exhibitions. Please check the museum website for updates.