Planting the Penny Hedge

What happens on the day

Just before 9am a small group gathers on the east bank of the Esk, below the railings on Church Street near the marker that commemorates the custom. Two men, by tradition the occupiers of land once held by the Abbot, drive stakes into the mud and weave hazel and willow between them to make a short hedge. The hedge must be finished by 9am and be strong enough to stand three tides. When it is done, a horn is blown and the cry 'Out on ye!' goes up. Then it is over, and everyone heads for breakfast.

How it began

The legend tells of three hunters who in 1159 chased a boar into a hermit’s chapel and attacked the hermit who sheltered it. Before he died, the hermit spared their lives on condition that they and their heirs plant a hedge each year on Ascension Eve, using knives costing a penny. The story is told with relish locally, and historians suggest the custom may really record an old duty to maintain fences for the Abbey. Either way, Whitby has kept planting, and the ceremony still draws a curious crowd.

Tips for the day

Visitors watch from the railings above the river; the planting is done by the people charged with it. Arrive by about 8.30am to get a view, as the space is tight and the ceremony is brief. Children enjoy the horn and the shout. Bring a coat, as the harbour is breezy first thing, and plan a walk up the 199 steps to the Abbey afterwards.

Where to watch

Search local Penny Hedge notices for "Horngarth" too. Whitby Town Council uses both names and places the planting in the Upper Harbour, just beyond the Church Street railings on the east bank. That’s far more precise than simply heading for Whitby’s famous harbour views. Find the right stretch on your map before you leave your accommodation, then use the new local announcement to check where the gathering is expected.

The council’s 2025 notice said construction began at around 8.40am, which is why turning up just for a stated nine o’clock ceremony can mean missing the work itself. That was one year’s timing, though, not a promise for the next, so check the new notice and give yourself time to settle in before the planters start.

Go for a view of the building work rather than angling for the exact spot where the horn is blown. Keep the pavement clear for people walking along Church Street, and don’t poke equipment across somebody else’s view. The pleasure lies in watching ordinary materials turn into a ceremonial hedge, and a patient look at the work can beat filming only the final shout. You don’t need to wade into the river mud to appreciate it.

Questions people ask

Where it is

The pin shows the approximate area. Open in OpenStreetMap