21/05/2007 09:34:00
A sculpture of a serpent was unveiled to mark the launch of YHA’s monster new offering on Whitby headland.
The statue stands at the end of the lawn in front of the spectacular new YHA Whitby, which has been created through a £3.3 million restoration of the historic Abbey House.
The Heritage Lottery Fund provided £1.4million of the funding needed for the project and it was the Chairman, Dame Liz Forgan, who performed the opening ceremony.
She said: “I was delighted to be asked to help celebrate today’s re-opening of YHA. This building has been transformed - with the help of £1.4million of Heritage Lottery Fund money - into a fully-functioning Youth Hostel that brings together the best of the old and the new.
“And I can’t think of a better place to benefit from Lottery players money – it may sound like a cliché but everyone’s a winner when it comes to this particular project….a precious historic building has been safeguarded for the future whilst being given a modern purpose which will keep it going for another century’s-worth of use. A great result all round.”
The serpent was created by Derbyshire sculptor Owen Cunningham and was inspired by a carving found on a decorative medieval beam that was discovered during the restoration work on the former lodgings of the Abbot from the iconic Abbey, whose ruins stand right next door.
YHA Whitby sleeps up to 100 people in 22 rooms, 20 are fully en suite with original 17th century wood panelling preventing the conversion of the other two.
Bookings for YHA Whitby are now being taken on 0870 770 8868 or online at www.yha.org.uk.
A typical family room for two adults and two children costs between £74 and £78.50 with adult prices ranging from £18.50 to £20. All prices include breakfast.
Pictured with the serpent are (left to right):
Sculptor Owen Cunningham, YHA Chief Executive Roger Clarke, HLF Chairman Dame Liz Forgan, YHA Chairman Chris Boulton and Abbey House owner Sir Freddie Strickland-Constable.