Whitby jet - fit for a queen
The attractive fishing port of Whitby is a favoured destination amongst members of the Goth subculture due to its connections with Bram Stoker's "Dracula" novel. Once there, they may find some suitably sombre items of jewellery - as Whitby is also famous for its jet gemstones.
The black gemstone jet is actually a type of coal. It is derived from the wood of the monkey puzzle tree, changed under extreme pressure over millions of years.
Jet is found in the cliffs and on the moors around Whtiby, and can also be found washed up on the beach. The jet here is around 181 million years old and is much harder than any other jet found around the world. This makes it highly prized for making jewellery and ornaments as the lightweight ‘jet’ black mineral can be highly polished and cut.
Jet has been used for jewellery and household items in Britain since Neolithic times It continued in use in Britain through the Bronze Age for necklace beads. During the Iron Age jet went out of fashion until the Romans arrived. The Romans loved jet and mined it in the area - though the results were worked at York.
With the rise of coastal and spa tourism in Victorian times, decorative items of Whitby jet were bought as souvenirs by tourists to the town.
Mourning and the rites associated with death were very important for the Victorians, and Whitby jet was just the gem to suit the national mood when the Duke of Wellington died in 1852. The 50 recorded workshops in 1850 then swelled to 204 following the death of Prince Albert in 1861 when the bereaved Queen Victoria chose Whitby Jet as part of her mourning dress.
The First World War brought the Whitby jet industry to an abrupt halt and the popularity of the gemstone declined as fashions changed in the following decades.
Despite this, several purveyors of Whitby Jet jewellery remain in the town - no doubt doing a good trade with more discriminating participants in the the bi-annual Whitby Goth Weekend, and all lovers of understated decoration.
Further reading
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