Fishing & Maritime History of Sheringham.

[t mo]

whato blue jacket
 i,ve just had a wander round the net the francis frith collection has got a few photos of sheringham fishermen and one or two boats but no names on them they look more like inshore boats , also have you seen the sheringham museum site it says that they,ve got some fishing boats as exhibits heres there e-mail address might be worth a go to see if they can help or pass you on to someone who can it,s - enquiries@sheringhammuseum.co.uk .
hope it helps will keep looking for you best of luck trevor

[Blue Jacket]

Hi Trevor.
              Thanks for your message. I have seen the Sheringham Museum website, in fact I live in Sheringham  and the results of my research will be given to the museum  for the use of future researchers. Although my main interest is the maritime & fishing history of Sheringham, I will record any maritime & fishing information for the North Norfolk coast if found while researching Sheringham.. It is a facinating history full of local characters and interesting incident
Regards
Blue Jacket.

[Cobwebs]

Hi, My family were all Sheringham fishermen although some were born in Runton or Beeston Regis.  My GG Grandfather was on a boat docked in Grimsby in the 1881 census.  His boat was "New Admiral", all the crew were Sheringham men, the crew amounted to 8 including the Captain.  They were also crab fishermen whose boats were all made by Emery.  I know the fishing boats weren't luggers but as far back as I can remember they were all open boats with diesel engines and oars.  Hope this helps.
Kind regards, Lyn

[Blue Jacket]

Hi Lyn.
          Thanks for your message.This is the first message I have received from someone who is connected with the Sheringham fishing families. For over twenty five years I was a crab fisherman at Sheringham until rapidly failing eye sight forced me to give up, but have always kept a keen interest in the Sheringham fishing and its history.

During research into my family history (NURSE families from Weybourne & Kelling) I found a very distant relative Thomas NURSE was on the "New Admiral" docked in Grimsby during the 1881 census and this is what really got me into researching the luggers and fishing history of Sheringham.

Regards.
Blue Jacket.

[Cobwebs]

Hello again, My great grandfather was George Potter on the 1881 census aboard the New Admiral.  His actual name was George Hardingham but as a child he used his step-father's surname.  I found this very confusing when doing my research because in 1891 census he's George Hardingham.  My grandfather was John "Sparrow" Hardingham, he was a crab fisherman all his life on West Beach at Sheringham. He was also one of the Coxswains of Foresters Centenary lifeboat.  I now live in High Kelling so not too far from you.  Kind regards Lyn

[Blue Jacket]

Hi Lyn.
           Thank you for your reply. As a youngster knocking about with the fishermen in the late 1950S and early 1960's I can remember John "Sparrow" Hardingham or Mr Hardingham as us youngsters used to call him. It's a long time ago now and I cannot remember if Mr hardingham was still going to sea then. He used to go to sea with his pal Henry "Pinny" Little in possibly a crab boat called the "White Rose".In my files there is a reproduced postcard by the Norfolk Museum Service of John "Sparrow" Hardingham in his Sheringham Guernsey (Gansey) taken from a 1920;s photograph. I have not included an image here as I do not know if it would infringe copyright, but if you would like a copy I have aspare one you are more than welcome to have.
Regards
Ken
Blue Jacket.

[Cobwebs]

Hello, Yes my grandad did go to sea with Pinny Little, they owned the boat between them, it was called "Edna" and was named after my mum.  He went to sea until he was almost 70 and Pinny decided to call it a day so they sold the boat back to Emery.  I don't know what happened to it after that.  The boat was originally bought between 3 of them but I can't remember the name of the other man, although I do have a photo of them all.  The photo of my grandad in his gansey, which you have a copy of, I have the original hanging in my hallway I inherited it when my grandma died in 1972.

So pleased you are doing research into the fishing industry, it is a dying trade these days, mores the pity.

Kind regards
Lyn