A PRETTY KETTLE OF FISH
This is an excerpt from the book "Life On Marsh" Available here
All images on this page are created by Andy Holyer
Today it is common to observe rows of self-absorbed and anoraked anglers sitting like sentinels on shingle along the coast, wistfully wishing for a codling. These are the spiritual descendants of a once thriving fishing community that led a harsh existence here, clinging to these beaches in hope of a profitable catch.
Herring fishing was the ‘gold standard’ of the local economy right back to the
medieval period, when salted herring was traded from the Cinque Ports at the
annual fair at Great Yarmouth. Remains of ‘herring hangs’ (towers for
smoking fish) can still be seen in Lydd and Dungeness. With Jim Moate’s
retirement this year we have unfortunately witnessed the last of this
traditional fish smoking method on the Romney Marsh coast.Along the coast are dotted net boiling ketches. These look like large laundry ovens, complete with chimneys and copper bowls, used to infuse nets with a tar solution to protect against the salt water.
In its heyday the fishing industry of Dungeness was serviced by a standard gauge railway service to Billingsgate. Remains of this railway, the narrow gauge railways from the beach to the road and railheads can still be seen today.
This is an excerpt from the book "Life On Marsh" Available here
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