This Is North Devon
07:00 - 13-November-2008
IT'S been cited by The Guardian as one of the best autumnal food fairs in the UK.
Clovelly's Herring Festival takes place this weekend celebrating the silver darlings of the sea.
The day aims to promote the fish as a great-tasting but often neglected species, as well as to help safeguard the livelihoods of fishermen and support the local economy.
Mike Smylie, maritime historian, writer and television broadcaster, returns to Clovelly with his Kipperland exhibition which tells the story of the herring. He will be smoking bloaters and kippers in his smokehouse and demonstrating fishing skills and crafts.
A quay kitchen will sell samples of delicious herring dishes and there'll be food and craft stalls too, with a special promotion of Devon cider and wine.
You can also snuggle up with local storyteller, Teri West, in the Red Lion Snug Bar for fabulously fishy tales, seafaring songs, riddles and rhymes. Traditional shanty singers and Stiltskin Theatre's Singing Fishwives, will also help to set the salty tone of the day.
Fishing was once at the heart of Clovelly life and records show that in 1749 there were a hundred herring boats in the port. Most villagers at that time were involved in dealing with the catch loading it into pannier baskets, known as mawns, to be carried up by donkeys to the top of the cobbles to waiting carts.
Herring was once at the core of the British fishing industry. Fishing fleets would follow the shoals down the east coast then along the south coast and back up the west coast.
They are in peak condition when they reach the Bristol Channel, plump with roe. Today there are only a handful of herring boats at Clovelly, the fishermen catching the herring in small drift nets, fishing mainly inshore, thus ensuring sustainable, carefully managed fishing.
● Clovelly Herring Festival takes place on Sunday November 16, 10am to 4pm on the harbour. For entrance prices to the visitors' centre visit www.clovelly.co.uk