St Martin’s Church provides a clear cultural anchor for a trip to Whenby. The first mention of a church in Whenby dates from 1250; the present building, however, dates to the 15th century. The early mention and the present-day building therefore represent different historical periods. St Martin’s Church is listed as a Grade II* building.

Building history and features

The present building is constructed in the Perpendicular style; a date of around 1480 has been proposed for its construction. This date is an approximate scholarly estimate. Restoration work took place in the 19th and 20th centuries. St Martin’s Church is built of ironstone, and its roofs are made of Welsh slate. Its style, materials and restoration work offer different ways to appreciate the building, without reducing its history to a single date.

The church’s features include a 15th-century font and a parish chest from the same period. The church also has three bells; the oldest dates from around 1380. It is therefore about a century older than the proposed construction date of around 1480. This comparison shows that individual features have their own dates and do not simply repeat the construction date of the present building.

Opening hours, access and time of year

St Martin’s Church is open daily from 10 am to 4 pm. Opening hours may change, so check them before your visit. Also consider access: a high stile leads from the main road to the churchyard entrance; from there, a steep, unpaved path climbs uphill to the church. Another unpaved path runs through the churchyard, and two uneven steps lead through the porch. Conditions can vary by season, so plan for the path as a separate part of your visit and check its condition before travelling.

In spring, dense drifts of snowdrops and daffodils grow in the churchyard. If you would like to see them in bloom, you can plan your visit for spring. This adds a seasonal reason to visit alongside the building’s history.

Getting there and the surrounding area

The route to the church follows the B1363; at Brandsby, turn directly towards Whenby. Check the route against current navigation information before setting off. Malton is the nearest railway station; St Martin’s Church is ten miles away. This distance helps with planning the location, while the actual train connections should be checked separately for your chosen travel date.

The Howardian Hills are also close to St Martin’s Church in Whenby. This gives the choice of location a regional dimension beyond the church visit: those considering both culture and landscape when choosing a destination can include Whenby and its surroundings in their plans. A public footpath also connects Whenby and Dalby. Before including it in a walk, check its current status against North Yorkshire’s definitive map of public rights of way.

Discover more destinations: Malton, Ravenscar, Tollerton, Carperby, Grosmont, Hackness, Newsham, Scalby.

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