The Rise & Fall of the Yarmouth Herring Industry – Mary Fewster

Why did Yarmouth become such a major herring fishery centre? Mary covers the period between 1880 and 1960, charting the introduction of steam-powered boats, and increased catches up to the ‘golden year’ of 1914.  She also looks at the different types of cures, and the impact of increasing Scottish involvement with the fishery.  The impact of the First World War is also considered, before the beginning of the slow decline through the 1920s and 1930s, and finally, the Second World War.
Mary Fewster taught history for twenty-seven years at the Hewett School, Norwich, the last fifteen as head of the department. Brought up at Aldeburgh, she developed a strong interest in local history from an early age. She completed an MPhil on the Yarmouth herring industry for the University of East Anglia School of East Anglian Studies, and has also taught at the School for Continuing Education at UEA. She is a member of the Norfolk Historic Buildings Group.

Non-members are welcome – tickets are £5.00 and are available from the Maltings Box Office.