Come and watch the planting of the Penny Hedge, a classic tradition in Whitby.

Each year in Whitby, locals and visitors gather on the east bank of the River Esk for the Planting of the Penny Hedge, a tradition that has lasted for centuries. The hedge is built starting at about 8:40 am, just past the railings on Church Street. It’s a charming event to see.

The ceremony, called the Horngarth, involves weaving a short hedge from hazel or willow stakes and planting it in the estuary of Whitby’s Upper Harbour. Local legend says the ritual began in 1159, after three hunters and their descendants were ordered to do this as penance for killing a hermit near Eskdale. The hedge must be strong enough to last through three tides, and the tradition has continued every year on Ascension Eve.