Fishwives, fishy treats, fun and more than a splash of local colour down at Clovelly
Harbour on a fair day in November. This is the month for the annual Clovelly Herring Festival, a time to celebrate
the history and heritage of the humble herring, a time for visitors to meet the
villagers who make and are the mainstay of this historic village. Local crafts
and produce was the order of the day and an opportunity for folk to try those
healthy herrings. We really enjoyed the oaty-coated herrings, freshly caught on the
Perham line and pan-fried in front of
us. There were also platters of lobster and crab, tarts and quiche, smoked
fish, fresh herrings, smoked herrings, marinated herring, locally sourced fish spiced with a myriad of flavours from around the world, homemade
fudge, fresh baked bread and locally brewed beer. The Fishwives, a comical sight, with their rotund behinds and huge feet waddled amongst the crowds, along the Quay, their huge skirts swaying in time to the music. In addition to the Quay
kitchens and cookery demonstrations, this is a time when villagers turn their hand to fundraising for
local causes. The ladies from the Clovelly Community Garden Group had a stall
up on the Kiln and Cream Teas were also served in the Lifeboathouse in aid of
the RNLI. A couple of Clovelly yummy
mummies had a homemade cake stall on the
Quay, delicious sponges, fruit cakes and cupcakes raising funds for the local “Small School”. The cupcakes decorated
in sea blue fishy style with the help of little.Frida. The RSPB also had “A Stall for Nature” and the North Devon National Trust provided crafty activities for
the kids up on the Kiln. Exhibitions and demonstrations of old seafaring skills
and the History of Herrings and Flax Making came from Mike Smylie’s Kipperland and
Simon and Ann from Flaxland. As the tide crept slowly into the harbour a Coracle, was launched by Simon who paddled quietly between a fishing boat used today and a Picarooner, one of the old traditional
herring boats. I ventured
along the top of the Harbour wall to capture a different perspective and
noticed the Herring Gulls mobbing the lone fishing boat, a turbulent scene on
a ultra calm sea. Herrings and heritage are the essence of Clovelly I hope I have captured that in my video clip
and the photos from the day. Shanty Singers “Shake a leg” can be heard in the
background - “Ten thousand miles away.
Blow the wind high-ho”
Meanwhile on the other side the hub-bub on the busy Quay
- Exmouth Shantymen
- Bideford's Shake a Leg
- Flash Jack
Clovelly Herring Festival 17th November 2013 - Article, video/photos copyright Pat Adams
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