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Crowd gathers for planting of Penny Hedge
A CROWD witnessed the annual planting of the Penny Hedge – a Whitby tradition which dates back to the 12th Century- on Wednesday morning.
About 40 tourists and locals gathered along the harbourside to watch Lol Hodgson and Tim Osborne construct the pliable hazel hedge ahead of the incoming tide.
Mr Osborne, who sounded a horn once the task was completed, said this was the ninth year he had taken part.
After the horn was sounded, Mr Hodgson, the current bailiff of the Manor of Fyling, shouted "out on ye" three times which culminated in a round of applause from the crowd.
This traditional ceremony began in 1159 AD when the Abbott of Whitby Abbey punished three local lords who fatally wounded a hermit when they were hunting a boar.
They and all their descendants have been carrying out this ancient ceremony on the East side of the upper harbour, building a token hedge out of local hazel rods cut with a penny knife ever since.
Full report and more pictures - see Friday's Whitby Gazette.
Video and pictures from 2008 Penny Hedge
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Weather for Whitby
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: -3 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 37 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: West
