Publications
The Early History of Brighton, as illustrated by the "Customs of the ancient Fishermen of the Town", by Rev. Edward Turner, published 1849 in Sussex Archæological Collections (vol. 2, article, pp.38-52) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 2087] & The Keep [LIB/500221] & S.A.S. library View Online
The Brighton Fishery, being an account of the fisherman; the boats employed, etc., published 1850 (32 pp., Brighton: Fleet & Son) accessible at: British Library
Sussex Fish and Fisheries, by Frederick E. Sawyer, published 1882 in Brighton and Sussex Natural History Society (article)
Sunny Days in Hastings and St. Leonards: a handbook for south-east Sussex , by W. H. Sanders with contributions by Prescott Row, published 1901 (xii + 136 pp., Hastings St. Leonards: C. Whittaker) accessible at: British Library & East Sussex Libraries
with special contributions on the geology and pre-historic races of the district, by W. G. Lewis-Abbott, F.G.S., and sea and fresh-water angling, by H. Dowsett.
Famous Brighton Fishing Marks. Where and what to fish for. [Plans], by Henry Ellis Brown, published 1921 (Brighton: H. E. Brown) accessible at: British Library
Tope Fishing in Chichester, by Morton Swinbourne, published 1932 in Sussex County Magazine (vol. VI no. 9, article, pp.612-613) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 9325] & The Keep [LIB/500175]
River Angling in Sussex, by Geoffrey Clarke, published 1934 in Sussex County Magazine (vol. VIII no. 9, article, pp.556-557) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 9329] & The Keep [LIB/500178]
The Fishing Boats of Hastings, by James Hornell, F.L.S., F.R.A.I., published 1937 in Sussex County Magazine (vol. XI no. 11, article, pp.700-705; no. 12, pp.766-771) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 2316][Lib 9332] & The Keep [LIB/500182]
Sea Fishing in Sussex, by Hugh Stoker, published 1 December 1962 (72 pp., Ernest Benn Ltd, ISBN-10: 0510225705 & ISBN-13: 9780510225704) accessible at: British Library & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries
Hastings: the stade at Rock-a-Nore, fishermen of Hastings, the net shops., published 1963 (second edition, 16 pp., Hastings: Henry Osborne) accessible at: British Library
Sussex Sea Fisheries District: Report to Contributory Authorities, published 1965 (pamphlet, Sussex Sea Fisheries District) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 5390]
The Early History of the Rye Fishing Industry, by A. J. F. Dulley, published 1969 in Sussex Archæological Collections (vol. 107, article, pp.36-64) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 2192] & The Keep [LIB/500322] & S.A.S. library
Hastings Fishermen's Museum booklet , published 1970 (15 pp., Hastings: Fishermen's Museum) accessible at: British Library
Sussex Sea Fisheries District: Report to Contributory Authorities, published 1971 (pamphlet, Sussex Sea Fisheries District) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 5392]
Emsworth Oyster Fleet. Industry and Shipping, by David J Rudkin, published 1975 (published by the author) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries
Sussex Fishing, by R. Moore, published April 1976 (32 pp., St Ives, Cornwall: Pike, ISBN-10: 085932172X & ISBN-13: 9780859321723) accessible at: British Library & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries
The fishermen and boatmen of Eastbourne, by T. Reed, published 1979 (8 pp., Eastbourne Local History Society) accessible at: British Library
Fishermen of Hastings: 200 years of the Hastings fishing community, by Steve Peak, published 1985 (160 pp., Newsbooks, ISBN-10: 0951070606 & ISBN-13: 9780951070604) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/502772] & Old Hastings Prervation Society & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries
Abstract:The only full history of one of Britain's oldest fishing communities. This book not only gives the history of the community but the people and boats. A very useful book for researching and for interest.
Brighton's Fishermen in 1625, by Andrew George and John Farrant, published June 1985 in Sussex Genealogist and Family Historian (vol. 7 no. 1, article, pp.4-6) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [MP 6277] & The Keep [LIB/501193] & CD SXGS from S.F.H.G.
Echo, The Queen of the Emsworth Oyster Fleet, by David J Rudkin, published 1987 (Castle Communications) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries
Tools of a brave existence: Beach fishing boats of Hastings, by Robin Gates, published 1992 in Classic Boat (no. 46, article, pp.27-32)
Catching Stories: Voices from the Brighton Fishing Community, by Brighton Fishing Community Project Team, published 1 May 1996 (144 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733467 & ISBN-13: 9780904733464) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & West Sussex Libraries
Abstract:This comprehensive account of the fishing industry documents how it has changed since the beginning of the century. At that time, fishing boats landed on the beach and the fish market was actually on the seafront. On a more personal level, Catching Stories is a living record, told in their own words, of the individuals who made up Brighton's fishing community.
Their past is remembered with humour and honesty, as are the bygone traditions and lifestyles of their families. This unique and valuable document of social and oral history reveals the details of a traditional profession in an informative and enjoyable way. Listen to 'hidden voices' that clamour to be heard!
Their past is remembered with humour and honesty, as are the bygone traditions and lifestyles of their families. This unique and valuable document of social and oral history reveals the details of a traditional profession in an informative and enjoyable way. Listen to 'hidden voices' that clamour to be heard!
Brighton Fishermen in 1864, by R. C. Grant, published December 1996 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 12 no. 4, article, p.137) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 14879] & The Keep [LIB/508811] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.
Preview:A list of 43 local seafaring men listed under the title: A Group of Tee-total Seamen, Fishermen & Boatmen of Brighton and its Vicinity, Members of the Philanthropic Society
Myth and reality in the representation of resorts: Brighton and the emergence of the 'Prince and fishing village' myth 1770-1824, by Sue Berry, published 2002 in Sussex Archæological Collections (vol. 140, article, pp.97-112) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15109] & The Keep [LIB/500299] & S.A.S. library View Online
Abstract:Many localities have two histories, the actual and the mythical. Myths can become so well-established that they overshadow the history of a place, as demonstrated in the first part of this study. In this instance the myth is that Brighton was a fishing village that from the 1780s was transformed into a resort by the patronage of the Prince of Wales. Having shown how much influence myths can have on our perception of the history of a place, a short review of our understanding of the history of Brighton's successful development as a resort between 1730 and 1783 disproves the claim that Brighton was a fishing village when the Prince arrived. The study ends with an examination of how the myth evolved. The myth began in the 1770s with Dr Richard Russell transforming Brighton from a fishing village. A subsequent but less popular version was that the Duke of Cumberland's arrival resulted in the town's development. Finally, the Prince of Wales became the subject of the story.
150 years of the Fishermen's Church (1854-2004), by Dennis Collins, published 2004 (24 pp., Old Hastings Presrvation Society) accessible at: Old Hastings Prervation Society & East Sussex Libraries
Abstract:The story of the development of the church, its life and final transformation by the Old Hastings Preservation Society into the Hastings Fishermen's Museum in 1956.
Loving the fishing? perspectives on the lives of the women of the Hastings fishing community, by Beatrice Clover, published 2005 (33 pp., Old Hastings Presrvation Society) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/507981] & East Sussex Libraries
Abstract:Perspectives on the lives of women of the Hastings fishing community; this is memories and views from voices not usually heard. Published in 2004 it is based on interviews collected by Beatrice in 1994
Fishermen of Eastbourne, by Ted Hide, published 20 November 2009 (388 pp., Seaford: S. B. Publications, ISBN-10: 1857703529 & ISBN-13: 9781857703528) accessible at: East Sussex Libraries
Abstract:In his second book, Ted Hide, explores in great detail the fishermen of Eastbourne, the families, the boats, the disasters, the successes, all in historical and nostalgic perfection.
Of resolute stock, Sussex fishermen were said by FE Sawyer in 1882 to be a mixed race, partly Spanish partly Norman French and partly Teutonic (Saxon) in origin. The 'Willicks' or 'Willickers' as the Fishermen of Eastbourne were known of old would fish the herring, sprat and mackerel when in those early days they came round in their seasons from the North. In their sturdy fine built sailing luggers known as 'Bourners' along with the fishing fleets of Hastings and Brighton following and fishing the mackerel down Channel to the west off Devon and Cornwall, finally to the waters off Southern Ireland, being away for months during the season. Other fishing expeditions would take our Eastbourne Luggers to northern waters off Scarborough. This close-knit community possessed skills and knowledge in the ways of the sea acquired over many generations of hardship with a mixture of bravery and tragedy both at sea and ashore. From the ancient fishing quarter, 'The Stade' at the 'Sea Houses', to the forced removal to east of the Great Redoubt, their current Fishing Station home. This book records happenings over the centuries of local fishing families and their important place in the life of Eastbourne. Not to be forgotten are interesting tales of piracy, smuggling and heroism aboard the Lifeboat.
Of resolute stock, Sussex fishermen were said by FE Sawyer in 1882 to be a mixed race, partly Spanish partly Norman French and partly Teutonic (Saxon) in origin. The 'Willicks' or 'Willickers' as the Fishermen of Eastbourne were known of old would fish the herring, sprat and mackerel when in those early days they came round in their seasons from the North. In their sturdy fine built sailing luggers known as 'Bourners' along with the fishing fleets of Hastings and Brighton following and fishing the mackerel down Channel to the west off Devon and Cornwall, finally to the waters off Southern Ireland, being away for months during the season. Other fishing expeditions would take our Eastbourne Luggers to northern waters off Scarborough. This close-knit community possessed skills and knowledge in the ways of the sea acquired over many generations of hardship with a mixture of bravery and tragedy both at sea and ashore. From the ancient fishing quarter, 'The Stade' at the 'Sea Houses', to the forced removal to east of the Great Redoubt, their current Fishing Station home. This book records happenings over the centuries of local fishing families and their important place in the life of Eastbourne. Not to be forgotten are interesting tales of piracy, smuggling and heroism aboard the Lifeboat.
Fisherman Against the Kaiser: Shockwaves of War 1915-1915, by Douglas D'Enno, published 18 March 2010 (240 pp., Pen & Sword Books Ltd., ISBN-10: 1844159795 & ISBN-13: 9781844159796) accessible at: East Sussex Libraries
Abstract:British fishermen are among the unsung heroes of the First World War. The conflict with Germany had an immediate and enduring impact on their lives and livelihood. They were immediately caught up in the sea war against the Kaiser's navy, confronting the threats presented by the submarines, minelayers, gunboats and capital ship of the High Seas Fleet. Often they found themselves thrust into strange, dangerous situations, which put their lives at risk and tested to the limit their bravery and skill as seamen. This is their fascinating story.
For the first time in this two-volume study Douglas d'Enno provides a comprehensive and lasting record of the services rendered by the fishermen and their vessels, both under naval control and on their own account. His pioneering history shows the full extent of their contribution to the British war effort, from minesweeping and submarine detection to patrol, escort and counterattack duties. The areas of action were not limited to the home waters of the Channel, the North Sea and the Western Approaches but ranged as far as the Arctic and the Mediterranean's Aegean and Adriatic seas. Extraordinary stories are recounted here of the hazards of minesweeping, battles with U-boats, decoy missions, patrols, blockades, rescues and capture by the enemy. First-hand accounts make up the essence of the material. Reports from the leading trade journals, specialist literature and personal manuscripts vividly recall the fishermen's experiences and the hardships and dangers they faced throughout the war.
For the first time in this two-volume study Douglas d'Enno provides a comprehensive and lasting record of the services rendered by the fishermen and their vessels, both under naval control and on their own account. His pioneering history shows the full extent of their contribution to the British war effort, from minesweeping and submarine detection to patrol, escort and counterattack duties. The areas of action were not limited to the home waters of the Channel, the North Sea and the Western Approaches but ranged as far as the Arctic and the Mediterranean's Aegean and Adriatic seas. Extraordinary stories are recounted here of the hazards of minesweeping, battles with U-boats, decoy missions, patrols, blockades, rescues and capture by the enemy. First-hand accounts make up the essence of the material. Reports from the leading trade journals, specialist literature and personal manuscripts vividly recall the fishermen's experiences and the hardships and dangers they faced throughout the war.
Quota discarding and distributive justice: the case of the under-10 m fishing fleet in Sussex, England, by T. Gray, R.C. Korda, S. Stead, E. Jones, published 2011 in Marine Policy (vol. 35, no. 2, article, pp.122-129)
Voices from the Hastings Stade, published 1 January 2012 (198 pp., Hastings Fisherman's Museum, ISBN-10: 0957144407 & ISBN-13: 9780957144408) accessible at: Old Hastings Prervation Society & East Sussex Libraries
Abstract:A collection of oral histories from those involved in the Hastings Fishing Industry edited by staff at Hastings Fishermen's Museum. Well illustrated, this gives a unique glimpse into the lives of this very special community.
Fishermen of Bognor, Felpham and Pagham, by Sheila Smith, published 1 February 2012 (48 pp., Bognor Regis Local History Society, ISBN-10: 0956647049 & ISBN-13: 9780956647047) accessible at: British Library
Constructing 'The Stade": fishers and non-fishers' identity and place attachment in Hastings, south-east England, by J. Urquhart, published 2013 in Marine Policy (vol. 37, article, pp.45-54)