The harbour at St Abbs, Scotland
During our recent visit to Scotland we stayed just outside Dunbar in East Lothian, just off the south-east coast. One place that we absolutely fell in love with was the tiny fishing village of St Abbs, which is about three miles north of Eyemouth.
St Abbs, which is within the Coldingham parish of Berwickshire (now Scottish Borders), was originally called Coldingham Shore. It was renamed in the late 19th century. Prior to any buildings the fishermen who worked their boats from the beach resided at Fisher's Brae in Coldingham. These fishermen had to carry their fishing gear one and a half miles down a path to where their fishing vessels were tied up. The path is now known as the Creel Path, creel being the local name for a lobster pot.
The first building in St Abbs was constructed in about the middle of the 18th century followed later by a row of five cottages. This first row of houses was constructed in a traditional Scottish style with a central fire and a wide chimney. The walls were constructed of "clat and clay," a framework of wood interlaced with straw and daubed with moist clay.
By 1832 it is recorded that the inhabitants of the village comprised 16 families who, with 20 others residing in Coldingham, made their living by fishing. In addition to these residents, 30 people proceeded annually to the north for the herring fishing season, which provided employment for 14 boats from the village.
The harbour at St Abbs, Scotland
During our recent visit to Scotland we stayed just outside Dunbar in East Lothian, just off the south-east coast. One place that we absolutely fell in love with was the tiny fishing village of St Abbs, which is about three miles north of Eyemouth.
St Abbs, which is within the Coldingham parish of Berwickshire (now Scottish Borders), was originally called Coldingham Shore. It was renamed in the late 19th century. Prior to any buildings the fishermen who worked their boats from the beach resided at Fisher's Brae in Coldingham. These fishermen had to carry their fishing gear one and a half miles down a path to where their fishing vessels were tied up. The path is now known as the Creel Path, creel being the local name for a lobster pot.
The first building in St Abbs was constructed in about the middle of the 18th century followed later by a row of five cottages. This first row of houses was constructed in a traditional Scottish style with a central fire and a wide chimney. The walls were constructed of "clat and clay," a framework of wood interlaced with straw and daubed with moist clay.
By 1832 it is recorded that the inhabitants of the village comprised 16 families who, with 20 others residing in Coldingham, made their living by fishing. In addition to these residents, 30 people proceeded annually to the north for the herring fishing season, which provided employment for 14 boats from the village.