Our Courtyard Garden

Formerly a working yard for a master-mariner’s business, but now an attractive garden with 18th century type plants, changing through the seasons.

Our knowledgeable gardeners often include plants from the South Seas such as flax or bottlebrush (Callistemon). Benches allow you to sit and soak up the atmosphere.

The Museum has a wonderful collection of over 700 botanical prints, the Joseph Banks Florilegium, based on drawings made by Sydney Parkinson, artist on Cook’s first voyage. Volunteers have researched a number of these plants, focussing on the ‘journey’ they have taken. Exploration, cross-continental trading, changes in status, development and breeding all enter the frame. Copies of this research material are kept in the Library. If you are interested, please contact our Learning Officer, learning@cookmuseumwhitby.co.uk.