Harbour Life
Snapshots from the South
Snapshots from the South
Kent, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall
Salcombe, South Hams, Devon
It is no coincidence that Salcombe is also known as 'Fulham by the sea' as in the summer months it is populated by Londoners escaping the heat and lack of garden space by de-camping to the 'South Hams' for the heat and lack of garden space there. Liberally laced with fresh salty air and activities that involve wearing the kids out before supper. Salcombe is a small harbour town situated on the Rhia that heads down from Kingsbridge on out to sea.
In the 1600s hundreds of Devon people were kidnapped by slave traders and sold to the slave markets in Algiers and Sallee on the Atlantic coast of Morrocco,some were eventually ransomed but others never returned home.
Regatta week features many traditional pursuits for the children as well as the obligatory boat racing, such a crab fishing competition, greasy pole competition and general jumping off the quayside by the Lifeboat Station, getting out, jumping back in and daring all your friends to do the same.
In the 1600s hundreds of Devon people were kidnapped by slave traders and sold to the slave markets in Algiers and Sallee on the Atlantic coast of Morrocco,some were eventually ransomed but others never returned home.
Regatta week features many traditional pursuits for the children as well as the obligatory boat racing, such a crab fishing competition, greasy pole competition and general jumping off the quayside by the Lifeboat Station, getting out, jumping back in and daring all your friends to do the same.
Whitstable, Kent
Famous for its Oysters, Whitstable is a working harbour and possibly that is why its regeneration hasn't marred the character and history of the place. You can buy lunch on Harbour street at the traditional fish and chip shop or the Tudor Tea Rooms where you can indulge in freshly caught fish and sea food, or you can wander along the harbour to the fish market and buy your own or sample sea food wares from over the channel. You can buy a dish of cockles or a plate of Oysters and enjoy the sea and the salt air and quite literally watch the ships go by. For all the fishing traditions, there beats a creative heart in Whitstable, present in its Arts Centre overlooking the bay and its quirky shops and boutiques on Harbour Street. Sailing and sea sports thrive here, don't pass it by if you're travellling through Kent although I've heard it called Little London and there are plenty of London families who never forget their association with Kent and its Hop-picking heritage.
Emsworth, Hampshire
A village with saxon roots that has grown up around its oyster fishing and boat building industry, a favourite with the sea faring fraternity of Surrey who need a handy place to moor their boats in the summer. I'm not talking sun cruisers but traditionally built Luggers and Dabbers, Longboats, shrimping boats and yes, the odd exotic yacht popping over or back from France or nearby Hayling Island. The small harbour accommodates a thriving sailing club and the walk along the sea wall affords glimpses of migratory birds and waders. Swans mill about the harbour mingling with kayaks and children intent on launching their 'Toppers'. You might well spot a Bugatti parked there, sandwiched between Portsmouth and the Northern end of Chichester Harbour the sense of Englands Naval history is ever present.
Portscatho, Cornwall
On the eastern side of the Roseland peninsula and once famous for its pilchard fishing Portscatho or in cornish, 'Rowing Boat harbour', relies more heavily now on the summer tourist trade. Rockpools for the children and easy launching for small fishing craft alongside the old stone jetty.
Mudeford, nr Christchurch, Dorset
Lying at the entrance to Christchurch Harbour, Mudeford is a small fishing village with a big heart. The Quay is a mecca for fishermen and water sports enthusiasts and avid young crabbers alike! On bank holidays you may see the 'Mods' pop in on their mopeds to buy some fresh fish from the fish stall and enjoy a pint at the Haven House Inn. There's a ferry over to Mudeford Sandbanks where, on a spit of land adjoining Hengistbury Head are some of the most expensive wooden beach huts in the UK. I have been coming here since I was a child and I never tire of it. The bustle when the fish comes in, or the Lifeboat is put out is intoxicating!
In 2008 I published some photos of Portscatho online, there ensued on twitter a vigourous debate about coastal regeneration, whether we were in danger of losing our traditional coastal heritage in favour of a 'regeneration' programme that erased all evidence of the old, but familiar fishing industry (lobster pots, fish crates, tired old wooden sheds, wooden hulled dinghys and rusting tubs, cranes and machinery) with modern development; contemporary clean lines and designed in order to attract leisure and tourism (bars, cafes, hotels, luxury housing development, surf and sailing schools/clubs). In 2009 I was asked to provide some pictures for a website promoting the south coast which was a fairly generic brief and led to this project 'Harbour Life' where upon I drag my family around coastal harbours and take loads of photos of whatever leaps out at me. I chose the intensive working harbour of Whitstable and smaller working one at Mudeford and then Emsworth with its Thorney Island Naval base and constant influx of sail boats and tourists and then Salcombe, which retains its boatyard and sailing traditions but is also serving the tourist trade and the sea leisure industry. Finally I've included two photographs from Portscatho, a sleepier cornish fishing village.
Crabbing, boats, sea-sports, life boats, sea-food, all feature. I hope that we manage to retain our 'fishing heritage' as we tidy up our coastal towns to make way for much needed income from tourism. This project is not yet finished. But in case, you're interested for this part of it I used my Nokia phone camera (Carl Zeiss lens) a compact Panasonic Lumix and a Canon EOS 35mm. I'd love to know what thoughts these pictures evoke for you... if you've time to comment please do or you can tweet me @Artsmonkey1
