Images courtesy of Nairn Museum. Below a little taster of some of the stories of the herring Workers in Nairn.
More info go to http://nairnmuseum.co.uk/ Or on fb https://www.facebook.com/nairnmuseum/
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just where me and tina have got to on the map so far! Wick to Helmsdale via Whaligoe Steps and Lybster, and the morning with Fisherman George Carter6/9/2021 Tues June 8th
Following this once thriving Herring industry From Wick To Lybster where I met George who fished for 40+ years. First Herring and then white fish. To Dunbeath (Over an enormous mountain) To Helmsdale recording from George to come! back in the highlands I had the pleasure to visit Timespan and speak with Curator and Heritage officer Jacquie Aitken on the relationship between Herring Fishing and the Highland Clearances. Ho Colonial slavery was fed by the Herring Trade (literally) and the physiques and mobilisation of these HARDY women. Many many invisibilized histories here. images from Timespan, Helmsdale. During the early 1900s there was prohibition in Wick - meaning it was dry during the height of the Herring Boom. Wick was thriving and had 1000s of thirsty fish workers descend on it during the Herring Season. Lybster, the fishing port (which today is a small village of around 1100 inhabitants) was NOT dry. In fact it had 3 pubs. How did the herring workers, curers, Cooper's and Fisherman get to the pub? Well luckily they built a train line specially for it. the Lybster train. It had 5 stops. And it is said, to always be filled by drinkers going to/returning from the pub. This poem, read by the Lybster Fishermen George Carter details the joy of the Lybster train. looking for orkas. on the ferry from shetland to orkney. orkas follow seals, seals follow herring...
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