With the atmospheric ruins of its clifftop abbey and its links to Bram Stoker's Dracula, Whitby has always had an association with the dark and the eerie.
Since 1994, goths have gathered in the town every October to mark Halloween by dressing in evocative costumes and listening to their favourite bands play live sets.
A goth woman on Whitby's historic streets
From its informal and organic beginnings as a meet-up in a pub for a group of founder Jo Hampshire's friends, the Whitby Goth Weekend was born - and the biannual festival (an April event was added to the calendar in 1997) has now come to define Whitby's modern identity.
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In recent years, concerns about overcrowding, expensive accommodation, disputes with venues and the arrival of a rival event, Tomorrow's Ghosts Festival, have threatened to derail the original and much-loved Whitby Goth Weekend - yet ahead of this month's Halloween edition, the concept remains more popular than ever before popular than before.
Goths now come from all over the world, the appeal has widened to include other subcultures such as steampunk and Victoriana, and visitor numbers are bolstered by thousands of tourists who come to photograph and appreciate the weird and wonderful outfits on display.
Steampunk and Victorian influences can also be seen in goths' costumes
Whitby Goth Weekend has well and truly gone mainstream, and a goth-centred economy has developed among the town's tourism businesses. Whitby may have been chosen for its Dracula connections and tolerance of alternative culture, but its residents have gone on to embrace the goths.
Jon Stokoe is a lifelong Whitby resident who has witnessed the town become more dependent on its goth scene.
"Whitby Goth Weekend has played a big part in the town's tourism boost in recent years. Twenty years or so ago, the main tourist season ran from about April to September. But now it really is an all-year-round destination for tourists.
"It is fair to say that with the first goth weekend, there was a bit of 'what's going on here?' from local people. But as is the way with Whitby folk, a warm welcome ensued as they embraced the goth visitors and the regular weekends which bring thousands of people to the town.
"The only drawback being it can get so busy that the town centre can become a no-go zone for local people. But it is a small price to pay for the economic benefits the events bring to the town and surrounding area.
Inside the historic Whitby pub where Captain Cook and Charles Dickens once drank
No vacancies
Incredibly, Whitby Goth Weekend devotees often have to book their accommodation two years in advance.
Most hotels, guesthouses and holiday lets have eagerly welcomed black-clad customers, and there is even a goth-themed B&B called Bats and Broomsticks.
The town is fully booked for every April and October goth weekend, with many visitors struggling to find a room.
Many of them stay at the White Horse & Griffin, a 17th-century coaching inn that evokes Whitby's seafaring past. Captain Cook and Charles Dickens are among its illustrious patrons.
General manager Andrew Smith has seen a steady increase in the goth trade in recent years, with guests attracted to the pub's historic features and candlelit interiors reminiscent of the period in which Dracula is set.
"The goths love staying here - it is fully booked for every goth weekend, and we are even booked for next year's too. That's the same for most places in Whitby now."
Goths in the street in an image that could be straight out of a period drama
Sue Duck, who owns French bistro Mademoiselle's, also runs a holiday let in the apartment above her restaurant.
It has a French theme, and is light and airy with a predominantly white decor - not the obvious choice for the gothically inclined.
Whitby Goth Weekend: All the best photos from the April 2019 event
Yet the flat has proved so popular that Sue is renovating further rooms for holiday rentals - this time with a dark colour scheme.
"Next month we are creating another room due to popular demand. The goths love our rooms! The new one is going to be opulent and dark, so it has that high-end, luxury appeal."