Promoting and showcasing the amazing Whitby Museum Collections and Archives.

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/11/12/13/baedfeba-15a1-4d58-99ed-86844fb18aba_tempest_prognosticator.mp3

In this episode we discuss George Merryweather; doctor, curator of Whitby Museum and the inventor of the Tempest Prognosticator! We summarise his three hour lecture he gave to the Whitby Lit &amp; Phil Society on February 27th 1851; sharing all the best bits (well we think they are the best bits).

Cracking Prognosticator Gromit!

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/9/1/14/fa63e219-99c9-4a61-b26f-eaf37578f3ac_a_light_bulb_moment.mp3

We have a fantastic, fascinating and curious collection of models in lightbulbs! Why? Because of Graham Leach, but who is Graham Leach?

Talking Archives: A Lightbulb Moment

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/7/29/11/3a6c1c6d-4214-4ca8-91e6-b27acb65cb86_regatta.mp3

In this episode Lynn and Claire chat about the Whitby Regatta; delving into its history using resources available in the library and archives.

Talking Archives: Whitby Regatta

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/6/2/12/0c177925-8e69-4ddc-ada0-543ce45b0be2_rob___captain_cook_voyage_book.mp3

As featured on the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002shj8/the-repair-shop-on-the-road-series-2-whitby-a-forbidden-maritime-memoir-resurfaces" rel="nofollow">Repair Shop on the Road</a> Archivist Rob chats about what was in the unofficial voyage book and who might have written it. Also, who the owner of the book might have been. We talk about the filming of the show and how Chris Shaw became involved. Visit our exhibition to see the book - <a href="https://whitbymuseum.org.uk/event/fantastic-archives-exhibition/" rel="nofollow">Fantastic Archives and where to find them</a> Interested in hearing how to restore a book book a place the talk in June - Click <a href="https://whitbymuseum.org.uk/event/talk-book-repair-restoration-conservation/" rel="nofollow">here</a>

Talking Archives: Archivist Rob Williams: The Unofficial Captain Cook Voyage Book

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/4/24/13/4924dbfb-a52d-4c55-8256-343f307a8b20_leeds_becket_final_cut.wav

In this episode Claire is joined by Elena and Zachary from Leeds Beckett University to chat about their research into folklore stories surrounding giants and old wives with the help of Frank and Harriet Elgee Scrap Books from the archive and a few books from the library.

Talking Archives: Leeds Beckett chat about Old Wives & Giants!

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/4/21/14/ce02aa84-9f1d-4496-b507-2303cce676a1_play_bills_3.mp3

In our archive we have a box filled with 100&#39;s of Whitby theatre bills dating from the 18th Century. Lynn has researched a few of them to share with you on this podcast.

Talking Archive: Whitby Play/Theatre Bills

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/3/17/11/67454d43-35ef-4d30-acff-76c70b92f89d_school_days.mp3

In this episode we share school stories from the library and archive using personal and village research projects and school log books.

Talking Archive: School Days

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/1/28/11/89f26d4b-e5cb-4fae-9137-a25d07b8f2c1_lewis_carroll_-_alice_in_wonderland.mp3

In this episode we chat about when Lewis Carroll, who wrote Alice In Wonderland, was in Whitby, the people he engaged with and the places he visited and stayed.

Talking Archive: Lewis Carroll in Whitby

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2025/10/29/10/ea74831c-f4a8-4d09-9e18-d715e23b9e57_1947_blizzard.mp3

Listen to stories from the Whitby Gazette about the blizzard in 1947 that created chaos in Whitby and the surrounding area.

Talking Archive: The Blizzard of 1947

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2025/10/17/9/46c167c6-ff62-4e63-b70e-2028552573c5_frank_elgee_story_-_moor_boy_and_shell_girl.mp3

Frank Elgee wrote this story for his wife Harriet, but it was never published. We thought it was a lovely tale and wanted to share its opening few pages with our listeners.

Talking Archive: Moor Boy & Shell Girl - A fairy story by Frank Elgee

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2025/8/20/9/3dffec7f-e891-43ee-a201-a6169eed492d_whitby_to_loftus_railway.mp3

The 16 mile Whitby to Loftus Railway opened on the 3rd December, 1883. It took 12 years to build and was fraught with many problems considering the 2 tunnels and 5 viaducts that needed to be constructed along this beautiful coastline. Known as a &#39;spectacular failure&#39;; it closed on the 3rd may 1958. We chat about the opening and closure of the line having researched books, archive documents and the digital Whitby Gazette - available in the library at Whitby Museum.

Talking Archive: Whitby to Loftus Railway...the closure

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2025/7/23/19/e7527180-1364-4ec4-b091-5e20d55d46f9_whitby_to_scarborough_railway.mp3

The Whitby to Scarborough Railway opened on the 16th July 1885 and closed 6th March 1965. In this episode we talk about the closure of the Whitby to Scarborough Railway; extensively covered by the Whitby Gazette. We also mention some of the additional Railway documents, books and leaflets we have for the public to access.

Talking Archive: Whitby to Scarborough Railway...the closure

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2025/6/11/9/19e6fa93-acf7-42ce-9ce3-0f9a663a633f_circus_posters.mp3

In this episode we chat about the box of circus posters that we have in the archive that date from 1841 to 1850. A selection of quirky acts feature on these delicate, fragile posters. We also mention newspaper articles with interesting stories from the circus.

Talking Archive: Circus Posters

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2025/4/30/15/d6f496b1-65a9-4535-ac84-c6b343157173_wwii_ve_day_procedures___celebrations.mp3

In this episode we chat about the celebrations &amp; events that took place during May 1945 &amp; October 1946. We also share articles from the Whitby Gazette regarding the Demobilisation of the British Forces (returning home).

Talking Archives: WWII VE Day Celebrations & Demobilisation

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2025/4/1/9/d50fc46b-e228-42be-b9d1-274e35d803c7_pictures_of_india.mp3

In this episode we talk about a scrap book Janet, one of our volunteers, found in the archive room. The book dates from 1832 to 1840. The pictures depict Isabella&#39;s life in India and the people she encountered. If you are interested in viewing this book contact library@whitbymuseum.org.uk.

Talking Archives: Pictures of India - Isabella Wells

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2025/3/4/15/be8dff3a-1119-42de-afb5-2febf56c1344_frank_elgee.mp3

We have delved into the archive and discovered Frank Elgee! What didn&#39;t this man know about the Moors? He, with the support of his wife Harriet, has written many books on Archaeology, had an interest in myths and superstitions and even written fictional fairy stories. This fascinating collection is full of letters, photographs, articles, scrap books, information pamphlets...

Talking Archives: Frank Elgee - The Man of the Moors

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2025/2/4/17/e225be8e-dfce-4204-9878-9e5bf99e7fa8_tom_watson.mp3

In this episode we chat about Tom Watson&#39;s life as a photographer; discussing postcards, photographs, newspapers articles and the exhibition featured in the library at Whitby Museum. Want to discover more? Come in and delve in the Tom Watson Archive - contact library@whitbymuseum.org.uk

Talking Archives: Tom Watson - Lythe Photographer

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2024/11/26/15/8a543518-85d7-4aaa-864f-7c8be95128a8_episode_12_1974_to_1976.mp3

This is the last episode where we chat about The Viking Magazine. We have enjoyed reading the articles and poems written by past staff and pupils. We look forward to sharing a new archive; so listen/look out for our next episode!The Viking is a school magazine that ran from 1916-1976 at The Grammar School, Whitby (was The County School - now The Whitby School). The magazines contain articles, adverts, poetry, sport results, exam achievements and more. These can be found in the Library at Whitby Museum. Read &amp; discover. #archivesforall #HeritageFund

Talking Archives: The Viking: Episode 12 1974 to 1976

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2024/11/8/15/b34c2708-ea80-4d92-bf91-32db7148986a_the_viking_episode_11_jubilee_1912_-_1962.mp3

The Viking is a school magazine that ran from 1916-1976 at The Grammar School, Whitby (was The County School - now The Whitby School). The magazines contain articles, adverts, poetry, sport results, exam achievements and more. These can be found in the Library at Whitby Museum. Read &amp; discover. #archivesforall #HeritageFund

Talking Archives: The Viking: Episode 11 1962 Jubilee Edition

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2024/10/8/9/cc786f9a-9c17-4c03-a794-14db1d07457c_the_viking_episode_episode_10_1952___1953.mp3

Talking Archives: The Viking: Episode 10 1952 & 1953

Promoting and showcasing the amazing Whitby Museum Collections and Archives.