The changing face of Whitby West Cliff - the whale bones have gone, ready to make way for bronze replicas.

placeholder image — The changing face of Whitby West Cliff - the whale bones have gone, ready to make way for bronze replicas.

IN PICTURES: New look for West Cliff as Whitby's iconic whale bones removed from clifftop site

By Duncan Atkins

Published 1st Sep 2026, 12:29 BST

Updated 1st Sep 2026, 14:11 BST

Whitby’s iconic whale bones have been removed, leaving townsfolk and visitors with a very different view from the West Cliff.

Years of exposure to the weather on the coast has led to significant deterioration in the arch’s condition, meaning the bones now need to be replaced.

They were removed on Tuesday September 1, with ethical bronze replicas set to replace them early in 2027.

1. Whitby whale bones removed

North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for open to business, Cllr Mark Crane (left) and coastal infrastructure engineer, John Woodhead, on site for the removal. Photo: submitted