Features

Flamborough Sword Dance December 27 2013

Boxing Day and our yearly pilgrimage along the cliff top to Flamborough to watch the sword dance.

A cloudless sky and warm Winter sun bathing the chalk cliffs. Bridlington in the distance.

Worsted wool red hats and mini Ganseys for the juniors. Wooden swords at the ready.

Dog & Duck square Flamborough for a rousing finale to the days events.

Hand Knitted Fishermans Ganseys, white cotton trousers and cloth caps

for the men of the village.

The circle of life is complete. Another year passes and a new one begins.

Vintage Original Flamborough Gansey October 27 2013

We were fortunate enough to be able to buy this extremely rare

example of an original hand knitted Flamborough Gansey sweater recently.

It's the finest vintage Gansey we have seen. It's a real museum piece and

a beautiful example of British heritage knitwear.

Woven name label sewn neatly into the back neck.

Bought from a local auction house and originaly belonging to

Mr.D.M.Burnhill from the small village of Sewerby a couple of miles down the

coast from Flamborough Head.

Knitted around 1940-50 in a 4ply wool, probably using the original

Poppleton's Gansey wool from Harrogate. This is a much finer yarn

then is available today. For the wearer the finer yarn means a denser

knit structure giving far better warmth and rain resistance. For the knitter

however the finer yarn means many more hours of knitting.

The Gansey must be over 50 years old and yet it has not lost any of its

shape and hardly any of its colour. The definition of the Net Mask & Cable

patterns is staggering.

The size is now a small, washed down and shrunk a little from what was

probably a medium when first knitted. The continuous washing by both man

and the North Sea have left the knit with a tight almost felt like structure.

It is easy to see where the phrase Fishermans Iron comes from.

This type of traditional hand knitting really would turn water.

Looking at the excelent condition of a Gansey this old and well made gives us

a glimpse of a time stretching away from us now. When clothes were made,

not bought and care was taken to ensure at least one lifetime of use.

Ahh the good ol days.

Tartan Neck Scarf Fishermans Muffler September 21 2013

Our latest Tartan Neck Scarf, known locally to Bridlington

Fisherman as a Muffler. Our work continues in trying to

recreate this deceptively tricky and now rare piece of kit.

Once standard issue to all men working out on the North Sea.

Brushed cotton Stewart Royal Tartan cloth, woven in Scotland.

Usually worn to prevent your Gansey sweater or heavy oil skin

waterproofs from rubbing your neck.

The tartan neck scarf measures 73cm x 73cm square.

The devils in the details, hand frayed edges instead of turned and sewn

seams to avoid the chance of any abrasion.

With a traditional fishermans neck scarf you should always

be able to wrap the neck scarf twice around the neck before

tying off in a knot at the front.

Tanker on the horizon heading south along the East coast

with the Bridlington Coast Guard station keeping the watch.

Hull dock worker sporting his tartan neck scarf. Pictured here around 1960.

Thanks to local fishing legend Dave for all the information and

background history on the traditional fishermans mufflers.

Pot Luck, Archive Footage of The Wayside Flower September 04 2013

Watch the video at: http://www.yfaonline.com/film/pot-luck

POT LUCK
1962

This documentary film was made by Bill Freeman in 1962. It focuses on the fishing industry in Bridlington and features the crew of the Wayside Flower as they bring in the catch of the day including lobsters and crabs.

The film opens with a sunrise over the water; a man approaches the docks and climbs aboard a fishing boat. More men arrive to board the Wayside Flower and begin to load lobster nets onto the boat. As the boat begins its journey, the docks appear to move further into the distance. Other boats are seen at sea as the boat rocks backwards and forwards on the waters. The captain of the boat is inside the steering vestal.

The fishermen pull up lobster nets from the sea and unload their catch. They begin to prepare the lobsters by tying string around the claws. Once the catch has been unloaded, the fishermen throw the cages back into the sea.

When the fishermen arrive back at the docks, they secure the boat with a series of ropes. The fishermen move barrels containing the day’s catch onto a wooden platform, which is pulled up by a crane and loaded onto the docks. There are crabs stored inside large wooden containers with rope handles marked ‘Grimsby Fish’.

When the containers are placed on the dock, fishermen unload them and start to prepare the fish that are inside. Two fishermen are working at a table, gutting into the fish and putting them into a basket. Other containers marked ‘W. SIDE’ are loaded onto the crane and placed on the docks.

Once the fishermen have unloaded their catch, they walk away from the docks towards Bridlington.

- See more at: www.yorkshirefilmarchive.com

Little Denmark archive footage, part 1 September 04 2013

Watch the video at: http://www.yfaonline.com/film/little-denmark-part-1
LITTLE DENMARK, PART 1
1957

A film documenting the work of the R.N.L.I at Flamborough, the film also shows a day in the life of working fishermen out of Flamborough.

The film opens with shots of Flamborough Bay followed by an introduction to the contributors who are shown in close up.

There is footage of the outskirts of Flamborough followed by scenes of the village including St Oswald’s Church, ruins of Flamborough Castle, and the War Memorial where a British Legion Service of Commemoration takes place. Service members lay a poppy wreath on the memorial. Views of Flamborough High Street include the Royal Dog and Duck Hotel, and the Ship Hotel. Many cars can be seen in the village, and a lady walks by pushing a pram.

The next scene features the Fishermen’s War Memorial and a Flamborough Sword Dance display. This is followed by a view of Flamborough Head where both the old and new lighthouse can be seen, and the lighthouse keepers are introduced. Views of South landing and the old lifeboat hut can be seen, and there are families enjoying the sandy beach.

A crowd is gathered at the North Landing for the annual Lifeboat Flag Day. People in fancy dress and crowds gather to watch the demonstration launch of the lifeboat. A helicopter drops a flare as part of the event.

The next portion of the film focuses on the fishermen who make their livelihood out of Flamborough. The day’s catch of crabs and lobsters are hauled up the beach at Flamborough and loaded on to vans. George Emerson and his brother show us a day in the life of their fishing vessel, the Silver Line. At sea they haul in baskets of lobsters and crabs. Back on shore, they bate the lines with mussels and whelks for the next day. Out on the boat there is long lining for cod and haddock. The fish are then prepared for gutting, and the livers are kept for cod liver oil. Seagulls swarm around the boat as it heads for the North Landing to bring in the day’s catch.

See more at: www.yorkshirefilmarchive.com