The Whitby Museum collection includes the 'Hand of Glory', a preserved human hand used in folklore for protection and thievery.
The park grounds contain a memorial to Captain James Cook, acknowledging the explorer's connection to Whitby.
The gardens include a specialized Jurassic garden showcasing plants representative of the period when local fossils were formed.
The park's development was funded entirely by a bequest from Robert Elliott Pannett to provide public recreation space.
The site features a significant collection of rare and heritage trees, many of which date back to the original private estate.
The museum interior holds a 'dreaded' display of early 20th-century taxidermy and curiosities from the Whitby Literary and Philosophical Society.
Pannett Park is a landscaped public space in Whitby centered around the Pannett Art Gallery and the Whitby Museum. The grounds occupy the former gardens of Pannett Hall, an estate gifted to the town by local philanthropist Robert Elliott Pannett in 1928. The park features a sunken garden, ornamental ponds, and diverse botanical collections including a dedicated 'wildlife area'. The Whitby Museum, located within the park, houses collections focused on local maritime history, whaling, and Jurassic fossils found in the region. The park topography is steeply sloped, offering elevated views of the town and the surrounding Esk Valley. Restoration work completed in 2005 reinstated the Edwardian-era garden layout. It serves as a central green space for the community and contains several listed structures.
The central lily pond terrace looking back toward the museum building.
Walk up to the highest point of the park for an unobstructed view of the Whitby Abbey ruins.
Check the museum's rotating exhibition schedule before visiting to see if specific local history displays are active.
Wear comfortable, sturdy shoes, as the park utilizes a network of steep paved inclines and steps.
Do not attempt to traverse the steeper grassy slopes when wet, as they become slippery.
The museum is closed on Mondays during the winter season.
Keep dogs on leads in specified garden areas; maintain quiet in the museum sections.
