Fisherrow

Fisherrow is a harbour and former fishing village at Musselburgh, East Lothian, Scotland, UK, to the east of Portobello and Joppa, and on the left bank of the River Esk.

History

There has been fishing at Fisherrow and Musselburgh since Roman times, and the present 18th century harbour is very close to the Roman harbour which served the Inveresk Roman fort on the high ground east of the River Esk. The Fisherrow fishermen used to fish for herring,and later for white fish, prawns and sprats. The harbour was home to a large fishing fleet.

Fishing villages were close-knit communities, and there was a Fishwives' Choir, and golf tournaments took place between the fishwives of Musselburgh and Fisherrow. Fishermen and fishwives held a "Box Walk" each September which marked the end of the fishing season, and an opportunity to give presents of money to those in need.

In 1939, the Firth of Forth became a strategic area for the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force, and fishing activities were curtailed. Fishermen's Associations and politicians protested against this, and some of the restrictions were lifted. But despite this, many fishermen were called up, and the Navy commandeered some of the boats for war service.

Present

The harbour is now predominantly used by leisure craft. Fisherrow Yacht Club (FYC) offers sailing, waterskiing and windsurfing.

The local Sea Cadets receive training at Fisherrow Harbour and at the training huts at the Esk mouth.

Fisherrow is the western starting point of the John Muir Way, a long-distance footpath along the East Lothian coast, terminating at Dunglass.

Fisherrow Links offers nine hole pitch and putt, as well as bowling greens.

Fisherrow Sands is the area between Fisherrow harbour and the mouth of the River Esk.

External links

* [http://www.fisherrowhistory.btik.com History of Fisherrow, by local historians]
* [http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_around_edinburgh_-_fisherrow.htm Old photos of Fisherrow]

ee also

*List of places in East Lothian

Photo gallery