Easby Moor
| Easby Moor | |
|---|---|
 Captain Cook's monument | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 324 m (1,063 ft) |
| Prominence | 104 m (341 ft) |
| Geography | |
| Location | North York Moors, England |
| Parent range | Cleveland Hills |
| OS grid | NZ590101 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 93 |
Easby Moor is located in the North York Moors national park at 324 metres (1,063 ft) above sea level within the Cleveland Hills, North Yorkshire, England. The moor is a part of the Cleveland Way and is best known for its monument to Captain James Cook, which overlooks the village of Great Ayton.
History
The moor was the scene of an air crash during World War II. At 4:10 a.m. on the morning of 11 February 1940, a Hudson aircraft took off from Thornaby airfield, to search for German minesweepers operating off the Danish coast. Five minutes later the plane crashed on Easby Moor killing three of the four crewmen and injuring the fourth. Ice had formed on the wings causing the aircraft to fail to gain sufficient height to clear the hills. The aircraft ploughed through a larch plantation before coming to rest. The gap in the plantation corresponds exactly with the Hudson's wingspan of 65.5 feet.
The aircrew who died were Flying Officer Tom Parker, Sergeant Harold Berksley and Corporal Norman Drury. Leading Aircraftman Athol Barker survived but was later shot down whilst flying over Germany. The four unexploded bombs that the Hudson carried were later detonated by the RAF resulting in a pond.[1]
Captain Cook's Monument
Erected in 1827 by Robert Campion, a Whitby banker, the 60 ft (18 m) high monument bears a plaque inscribed with:[2]
In memory of the celebrated circumnavigator Captain James Cook F.R.S. A man of nautical knowledge inferior to none, in zeal prudence and energy, superior to most. Regardless of danger he opened an intercourse with the Friendly Isles and other parts of the Southern Hemisphere. He was born at Marton Oct. 27th 1728 and massacred at Owythee Feb. 14th 1779 to the inexpressible grief of his countrymen. While the art of navigation shall be cultivated among men, whilst the spirit of enterprise, commerce and philanthropy shall animate the sons of Britain, while it shall be deemed the honour of a Christian Nation to spread civilisation and the blessings of the Christian faith among pagan and savage tribes, so long will the name of Captain Cook stand out amongst the most celebrated and most admired benefactors of the human race.[3]
References
- ↑ Pearce, Ian (2003); Lost on Easby Moor: The Last Flight of Hudson NR-E. Great Ayton Community Archaeology Project. Printability Publishing. ISBN 978-1872239408
- ↑ Ramblers Short Walks in The North York Moors. Collins. 2011. p. 17. ISBN 978-0007395415.
- ↑ "Captain Cook's Monument". Great Ayton. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
Coordinates: 54°29′00″N 1°05′24″W / 54.483271°N 1.090097°W