The statement which has been unconditionally made that Whitby Abbey is to be handed over to the First Commissioner of Works is not quite correct. It is extremely probable that the transfer will take place, but there are still certain questions outstanding which it is hoped to settle at a meeting of the interested parties. The Abbey is at present the property of the Hon. Mrs. Tatton Willoughby, wife of Colonel Tatton Willoughby, Howsham Hall, near York.
The Abbey was surrendered the Crown in 1539, and in the reign of Edward VI, it' was granted to John, Earl of Warwick. He sold it Sir John York, who in his turn sold it to Sir Richard Cholmley. It has remained in the Cholmley family ever since. The present owner is the daughter of Sir Charles Strick-'Jand, who changed his name on succeeding his father, Sir George Cholmley.
In one form or another this religious house has stood on its gaunt hill looking over the grey, northern sea for 1,300 years, and here feame the dawn of our poetry. Chaucer was the full breaking day. but Caedmon was the first flush of light. Here he sang the first Saxon songs.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.