Description:
Stands on the West Cliff, near Whitby Pavilion car park, not far from the Cook statue. The Pavilion hosts many events throughout the year.
Memorial has a stone plinth with a commemorative plaque and originally there was a collecting box for Lions charities incorporated.
Above is a signpost pointing to many of Cook’s destinations with the distances to them around Cape Horn, in nautical miles, and which are (in clockwise order):
Alaska 6990
Christmas Isle 12790
Tahiti 11830
Tonga 13300
New Zealand 12090
Botany Bay 13325
South Sandwich Isle 6680
Hawaiian Isle 13970
Vancouver Isle 14200
History:
The signpost was presented to the people of Whitby, UK by Whitby District Lions Club to mark its 25th Anniversary in 1995.
Inscriptions:
On the south face of the plinth:
ERECTED TO HONOUR THE WORLD’S GREATEST NAVIGATOR
CAPTAIN JAMES COOK R.N.
BORN MARTON 27.10.1728
KILLED AT KEALAKEKUA BAY 14.2.1779
Distances shown, nautical miles round Cape Horn
On the west face of the plinth:
TO COMMEMORATE 25 YEARS
OF SERVICE BY
WHITBY DISTRICT LIONS CLUB
1970-1995
Please help us with your donations
OS Grid Reference: NZ 897 116
References:
Cook’s Log, page 1267, vol.19, no.2, (1996).
Image gallery (click to enlarge)