On Friday 28 March the popular BBC’s Countryfile programme will be on Southport beach filming The Atkinson’s shrimping cart, which has been restored by local Wheelwright Phil Gregon for its final trawl.
The shrimping cart has been in The Atkinson’s collection for many years and was recently reconstructed using traditional methods by local craftsman, Phil Gregson from Banks.
The cart, having been on display in The Atkinson since February will be taken out for one last fishing expedition along the Southport shore, before being installed in The Atkinson’s new museum which opens in the autumn and was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Phil Gregson said:
“I want to do my part to recreate a local way of life that only remains in the memories of a handful of people.
My paternal grandfather used to go shrimping and my maternal grandfather used to repair the wheels for some of the shrimping carts before they started using rubber tyres.”
In the last 12 months, The Atkinson has managed to secure over £100,000 in grants for new projects plus almost £1m from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the development of the new museum that opens later this year. The restoration and installation of the shrimping cart in the new museum is being funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Southport has always had a history of fishing, including the catching of shrimps, which has been carried out in Southport and nearby districts for centuries. References for it can be found as far back as 1113 to fishing in the Parish of North Meols. The fish caught included sole, plaice, crab, herring, cockles and of course shrimp. By the 1800‘s there was a fleet of 13 trawl boats, mostly made locally and known as ’Nobby’s’.
Horse-drawn carts or mechanical vehicles trawl nets behind boats, known as ‘shanking’. Another method, though less frequently used today, consists of pushing a net along the sea bed to catch the shrimps. This is known as ‘putting’.
With the gradual filling of the channels on this part of the coast, boat ‘shanking’ had to cease and cart ‘shanking’ became the method employed. Today you are more likely to see the fishing carried out by means of an amphibious vehicle.
The museum opening in October 2014 will complete The Atkinson’s visitor experience as it will tell the story of Southport and Sefton as well as the area’s dramatic maritime history. It will also be the new home for the Goodison Egyptology Collection, a remarkable collection of archaeology that has not seen for over 40 years.
More information on the new museum will be being added to the website theatkinson.co.uk over the next few months as well as in the local press. For more information on local Wheelwright, Phil Gregson please visit the website wheelwrighting.co.uk
The Atkinson
Lord Street
Southport
Merseyside
PR8 1DB
HOW TO BOOK
In person: Visit the Southport Tourist Information Centre (located on Lord Street, Southport).
For tickets: visit the website theatkinson.co.uk* or call box office on 01704 533333*
*Subject to a £2 booking fee.
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Notes to Editors
For more information, interviews, images or review tickets, please contact Emma Lloyd at The Atkinson on 0151 934 2129 | emma.lloyd@sefton.gov.uk
About The Atkinson
The Atkinson is Southport’s beautiful new home for music, theatre, art, poetry, literature and history, right in the middle of Lord Street in Southport. Significant investment has been made in refurbishing the stunning 19th century buildings, to create a really welcoming multi art-form venue with a strong contemporary feel.
The Atkinson offers an exciting and varied destination for families, cultural tourists and arts enthusiasts alike, with a full day and night time offer. Wile the day away visiting the new shop, that sells gifts and contemporary crafts from regional makers and then relax in the Bakery, choosing from a selection of artisan bread sandwiches, cakes and sharing platters. You can even take little bit of The Atkinson home with you from the delicatessen. Wonder through the major exhibitions and see performances from some of the UK’s foremost musicians, actors, performers and companies, films, family activities and much more.
In October 2014 The Atkinson becomes something even more exciting for visitors, with the opening of the museum which will tell the story of Southport and Sefton as well as the area’s dramatic maritime history. It will also be the new home for the Goodison Egyptology Collection, a remarkable collection of archaeology that has not seen for over 40 years.
Posted on 25 March 2014 under General news
