Archive project will tell the story of the herring girls
Funding has been secured for a heritage project devoted to fisher lassies such as those who helped Wick earn its reputation as the herring capital of Europe.
High Life Highland’s archive service has teamed up with Suffolk Archives, the Norfolk Record Office and the Hebridean Archives, Tasglann nan Eilean, on the initiative.
The funding, awarded by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, will allow the partners to research and tell the story of the herring girls who travelled around the coast to follow the fishing fleets and do the backbreaking work of gutting and barrelling the catch.
These hardy women played an important role in the life of fishing towns in Scotland and England, becoming seasoned travellers who in some cases married and settled far from home.
Alison Mason, Highland archivist, at High Life Highland’s archive service, said: “We are thrilled to have secured this funding from the Lloyd’s Register Foundation which will allow us to delve into the remarkable but often overlooked stories of the herring girls.
“These women were vital to the fishing industry and in the communities they lived and worked in across Scotland and England, and this project will celebrate their contribution and preserve their legacy.
“As part of the project, which will result in both an online and a touring exhibition, we are keen to gather stories, memories and archive material relating to the herring girls, particularly those who spent time in both Scotland and East Anglia.”
The herring girls would travel from port to port from June to September following fleets of boats to gut and pack fish into barrels for export.
Wick became known as Europe’s herring capital due to the volume of fish landed there. It has been claimed that in 1867, in two days, some 3500 fisher lassies gutted a total of 50 million herring at Pulteneytown harbour.
Wick later had an annual herring queen pageant, with herring queens reigning from 1937 to 1953.
Anyone who had a family member that worked as a herring girl, or who has any stories to share, is invited to get in touch by emailing archives@highlifehighland.com or calling 01349 781130.
