Spring in Steease: The Magic of the Silverwhips

Apr 1

3 min read

From the Staithes Museum Newsletter, April 2026

As the "scented breeaze blows oot o' t' west," there is no more evocative way to mark the arrival of spring in Staithes than through the verses of its most famous dialect poet, Arthur Stanley Umpleby. In his 1935 anthology, A Bo’ddin o’ Cowls (A Bundle of Heather), Umpleby captured the unique beauty of the village during its most vibrant season.

The Ballade of Staithes

The opening stanza of his celebrated "Ballade of Staithes" serves as a timeless tribute to the village—known in local dialect as Steease or Steers:

"Ah leyke ti gan ti Steease i’ spring;

That’s t’ taam shu allus leeaks ’er best;

When t’ mis’le-thrush an’ t’ blackies sing,

An’ t’ cuddy biggs ’er laal roond nest;

When t’ scented breeaze blows oot o’ t’ west,

An’ t’ primrooaases leeaks up ti t’ shoo’er,

When Awkness trees wi’ blossom’s dhrissed,

An’ t’ silverwhips is oot i’ floo’er."

Translation:

I like to go to Staithes in spring;

That’s the time she always looks her best;

When the mistle-thrush and the blackbirds sing,

And the hedge-sparrow builds her little round nest:

When the scented breeze blows out of the west,

And the primroses look up to the shower,

When Aukness trees with blossom are dressed,

And the sea cabbage is out in flower.

Unveiling the "Silverwhips"

"Silverwhips" is the distinctive name for Staithes Cabbage (Brassica oleracea), a wild variety that grows in profusion along the rugged cliffs of Cowbar Nab. This plant is so characteristic of the area that its presence has been recorded by botanists as far back as 1801.

Beyond their aesthetic appeal—with their purple stems, blue-green leaves, and four-petal yellow flowers that bloom from May to August—Silverwhips are a subject of significant scientific interest. Modern geneticists, such as Dr Phil Gates of Durham University, have noted that these wild clusters are "untapped reserves of genetic variability," and it is believed that many common supermarket vegetables like sprouts, cauliflower, and kale can be traced back to the cross-pollination of these wild ancestors.

A Culinary Heritage

Silverwhips are not merely for looking at; they have long been a staple of the local "home economy". Patricia Hutchinson, a descendant of a long-standing Staithes family, still picks the young cabbage to be eaten locally for free. It can be blanched, steamed, or roasted, and is often served as a delicacy similar to fresh asparagus or with homemade garlic mayonnaise. Historically, the plant was even valued by the Romans, who used it as medicine for everything from hypochondria to counteracting the effects of wine.

Preserving the Music of Speech

The poet himself, A.S. Umpleby, was a vital figure in village life, serving as the Staithes station master between the wars, a magistrate, and a committed champion of the Yorkshire dialect. He was once dismissed and later reinstated for his leadership role in the 1926 National Strike, yet he remains most fondly remembered for preserving the "music of its speech". He even used his wit to tease inaccurate British Railways posters, declaring: "Crabby, Ther's Whidby Abbey o' Cowbar End".

As we look toward the cliffs this spring, the blooming Silverwhips serve as a living link to the heritage and language that Umpleby so passionately immortalised.