In the 18th century, herring were plentiful and provided a valuable food source and livelihood for the fishermen and their lasses. They would move from North to South alongside the herring shoals, fish were beheaded and gutted on the harbour side by these herring lasses and packed into salted barrels to preserve them. A tough life that only the hardiest could endure. Few fortunes were made and many lives were lost at sea. The lasses would tie their fingers with sail cloth to protect them from the sharp gutting knives - in the winter cold, they couldn't feel if they had sliced through flesh until their hands thawed out of an evening time. If it was too rough to go to sea, they would knit jumpers, socks, hats and mittens with yarn from the Lancashire woollen mills which they exchanged for barrels of herring. Men drowned at sea could often be identified by the patterns on their jumpers (Ganseys). Many lasses stayed down south,hoping for a better life. They were very strong and independent and they went on strike in order to get one shilling per barrel instead of ten pence. They won their case. They gutted 50 to 60 fish per minute. ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** On the beach in Hastings Old town this morning. Modern fishing boats and the East Hill lift on the cliff face And our local contribution to the Herring exhibition. A knitted fish hut( my prawns are in the middle basket. the side of the hut depicting various "creatures of the deep". A knitted - yes knitted herring boat with the bow cutting through the waves the starboard side of the vessel ( seal mum and pup in bottom right hand corner). and a handsome herring haul today Jenny namaste
Hastings has always been one of my stopping off points. First holiday was spent there when I was about 4yrs old. Who did all the Knitting jenny?
Good evening Jenny ,ahh Hastings ,what memories,thanks for the lovely photos Is the lift still there Jenny
Mostly ladies of course from surrounding towns .I belong to a Knit and Natter group in Battle and we were asked to contribute. We knitted fish, chips, tiles, mermaids and prawns. Local schools were encouraged to learn to knit and make chips, jelly fish and herrings. Exhibitions have been staged all down the East coast, following the herring migration. More info here: http://www.customshouse.co.uk/followtheherring Jenny
Really interesting Jenny, how long will it stay on show? I'd like to come and see it. Did you see the "Cardigan cardigan? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-mid-wales-12122179
Lovely photos Jenny and the workmanship is fantastic.The hours it must have taken to make the displays and then the assembling of them all. We went to Hastings a few years ago and we had an interesting audio walk round the alleged battle field at Battle but now historians are saying that the battle took place on where now is a roundabout in Battle Must go back there sometime as we really enjoyed ourselves in your part of the country.
I've email the Hasting co ordinator and asked her how long it will be left in situ. I'll let you know what she says, Jenny
Thanks for checking Jenny. Can't believe all that work could be lost. Maybe it will go into store and be shown again?
Great exhibition Jenny I knew that the herring fleet followed the shoals down the east coast . Great Yarmouth below being one of the major ports. I didn't know that the fleet continued along the channel . The herring fishing industry totally collapsed , I think after the war. Can someone tell us why and will it return ?
