THE anniversary of an historic voyage by a North-East born explorer will be celebrated by English Heritage.

This year marks 250 years since Captain James Cook, who was born in Marton in Middlesbrough, departed from Plymouth on his first voyage of discovery to the Pacific.

The expedition, the first of Captain Cook's three Pacific voyages, was to determine whether a continent existed in the southern latitudes of the Pacific Ocean.

He began his journey, along with a crew of nearly 100 men, on the HMS Endeavour on August 8 1768.

To mark the anniversary, HM Bark Endeavour, which is one of only two full-scale replicas in the world of the ship commanded by Captain Cook, will go on a new voyage along the North York Moors coast from it's current base in Stockton to Whitby.

Captain Cook's exploration is one of a series of anniversaries English Heritage is marking across 2018.

The charity, which looks after hundreds of England's historical sites, will also mark ten years since Barack Obama was elected as the first black president of the USA, 70 years since the National Health Service (NHS) was established and 100 years since Stonehenge was gifted to the nation.

It will also celebrate 100 years since The Representation of the People Act was passed, giving women over 30 the right to vote, 150 years since the world's first traffic lights were installed outside the Houses of Parliament and 100 years since the end of the First World War when the Armistice was signed between France, Britain, and Germany.

In August a partnership led by Whitby businessman Andrew Fiddler purchased HM Bark Endeavour and he is currently spending almost £750,000 refurbishing and repairing the 33-metre long Teesside-built ship.

Mr Fiddler intends re-opening HM Bark Endeavour as an historic tourist attraction and centre of learning for schools and colleges.

Mr Fiddler said: “To have secured one of the most distinctive and historic maritime attractions is fantastic particularly as I’ve had a lifelong passion for the sea.

"Not only did I serve in the Royal Navy but I also participated in Endeavour ’90, a six-month circumnavigation of the globe which included visiting Dutch Harbour in the Aleutian Islands where Cook landed.

“Now we have to carefully work out a complex programme for sensitively refurbishing the ship so that once again HM Bark Endeavour can tell the story of life at sea in the 18th century.”

Catriona McLees, head of promotion and tourism for the North York Moors National Park Authority, said: “We’re delighted to help support a project that has such a strong resonance with the National Park particularly with Cook’s early years being spent near Roseberry Topping and Great Ayton before he moved to Staithes and then onto Whitby where his maritime career began."

Councillor Bob Cook, leader of Stockton Borough Council, added: “It is a bittersweet moment really because we’ll be sad to see it go but it’s great to see it being retained in the region."

For more information, visit www.english-heritage.org.uk