Mischief on the Misty Coast

Whimsy On A Wednesday

Posted on: 21st Aug, 2024

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A watercolour of sailboats on a lake.

Whimsy on a Wednesday bringing you a pirate’s romp along England’s Northern Shores

I went on another trip to the seaside. This time up northeast to Whitby to visit my Best Friend Forevs.  

This weekend was Regatta weekend which meant it was very busy with lots of entertainment going on from music…

one man band playing music on UK cobbled street

to trips out to sea…

to clifftop walks…

to sunsets on the shoreline…

and not an argument was to be had anywhere…

Happy Summer Days!

But then, as I wandered from the Abbey through the graveyard of St Mary’s Church I sensed a chill on my skin. A whistle of wind whispered near my ear like a warm breath. Could it be Dracula? Legend has it he is buried here in this very cemetery. Those in the know say there are two graves with skulls and crossbones carved into them, and one of them is his. 

I couldn’t miss that opportunity so my friend showed the graves to me.

“Pirate Graves.” she said, pointing at the stone tombs.”If you look closely you can just about make out the skull and crossbones here.” 

pirate graves of Whitby, North Yorkshire

Years of folklore have had many believe that Dracula is buried in St Mary’s, and if it ain’t pirates under one of those slabs, then it could be the Dark Lord himself. 

These types of graves can be found all over the UK and are said to be the graves of members of the Knights Templar. Who knows what to believe? St Mary’s seems to have some well-known corpses in its sacred grounds from The Count, Humpty Dumpty, Tom Thumb, and William Scoresby Sr, the man who invented the Crow’s Nest.  

But, I’m in the camp that says that pirates be lying there. How can a skull and crossbones at a seaport be anything other? There is one indeed that belongs to a pirate and his beloved wife. He bestowed on her many gifts and jewels that he plundered from other seafarers and travellers. One time he brought her back a beautiful shawl that he stole from a young girl he had murdered on a ship. His wife loved the shawl so much that she saved it for her Sunday best. On that first Sunday, she donned the shawl and went to admire how it looked on her in the mirror. Instead of seeing herself, she saw the face of the murdered girl staring back at her screaming. The pirate’s wife went hysterical and died soon after. 

Never let a bloke choose your clothing.

Anyway, that’s enough swashbuckling from me. Until next time, buccaneers. 

 

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12 Comments on Mischief on the Misty Coast

LL

LL

21st Aug, 2024 16:08

You didn’t go sailing? I would have thought given the regatta going on that you might have walked down to the docks and hitched a ride. Who knows what booty was there to be had?

Reply
Jules

Jules Smith

22nd Aug, 2024 09:08

Well, no, not proper sailing but I went out on a big yellow boat! They rowers racing in the sea – I watched with a lemon top ice-cream!
I reckon there’s pirate swag in those graves. I just need someone strong to lift the lid!

Reply
LL

LL

24th Aug, 2024 02:08

If we set off on a life of grave robbing (a historically marginally honest profession in Old Blighty), we’d need a big canvas bag filled with burglary tools. How surprised was Dr. Frankenstein when Igor (Marty Feldman) found a moderately fresh brain? Not surprised at all.

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the late phoenix

the late phoenix

21st Aug, 2024 21:08

trips out to sea………with a banjo on his knee!!!

I wanna parkour those clifftop roofs.

all lasting marriages need an Arguments Yard.

Mary, the heroine of Treasure Island, right?…

I never used to think Dracula COULD have a tomb. then i saw Interview with the Vampire. you know it’s Dracula’s Tomb if the coffin is on the OUTSIDE.

don’t worry, I still don’t know how to pick out my clothes.

*)

Reply
Jules

Jules Smith

22nd Aug, 2024 10:08

I feel a shanty coming on!

I think an arguments yard is a great place. It’s where all people should go to let off steam and have a row. Maybe you could join in other people’s rows and make them worse or solve them? So long as there’s not a bar there or it could get nasty. Maybe Dracula could chow down on the loser. *)

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Roger B.

Roger B.

21st Aug, 2024 21:08

Good to hear from Julesy, once again cheerfully ambling about the countryside, not corralled by that odious fellow on Downing Street whose name may not be mentioned on the internet.

Reply
Jules

Jules Smith

22nd Aug, 2024 10:08

I will not be corralled, dear Roger! That name is barred from my blog! Hold on… will I get arrested for that?

Thankfully, seaside people don’t listen to any of that malarkey!

Reply
Chris Sheehy

Chris Sheehy

22nd Aug, 2024 16:08

Can you get a “good” argument, or just an argument in that yard (and any risk of abuse)?

And good to see L.L. is alive and posting.

CJS

Reply
Jules

Jules Smith

23rd Aug, 2024 10:08

Hello Chris. Thanks for the visit!
Given that this is England I would say that you could get any kind of argument in that yard and that there’s almost definitely a good chance of abuse on the side!

You can’t keep good man down!

Reply
Al Kirk

Al Kirk

22nd Aug, 2024 19:08

Pirate graves? Himmm.. church normally didn’t allow that.., bad karma. So maybe Templars.

Great pictures… glad you had a good visit.

Hope food was Devine.

Smile…

Reply
Jules

Jules Smith

23rd Aug, 2024 10:08

Yes, sacred ground and all that. You’re probably right.

Thank you, Al! I always love visiting Whitby.

Food this weekend was – My first lemon top. Famous ice-cream from Whitby. It’s basically Mr Whippy vanilla ice-cream with a lemon sorbet top!
And then of course, there’s the obligatory fish and chips! Oh, and a great big Scottie filled with breakfast fodder!

🙂

Reply
Al Kirk

Al Kirk

23rd Aug, 2024 13:08

Whiby’s… waffle cone!

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