Newhaven Fisherman and Fishwife

Category

Library Item

Item no

3896

Title

Newhaven Fisherman and Fishwife

Description

A fisherman and fishwife stand beside a column. She wears a striped skirt and headscarf, and carries a creel on her back. He wears boots and a hat. In one hand he holds a fishing net. There is a low seat on the ground behind him.

Artist / maker

Unknown

Date

1850

Size

16.5 x 18 cm

Type

Salted paper print

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Newhaven was founded by James IV in 1504 as a royal dockyard. It became an important fishing village, famous initially for oysters and later herring. An indoor fish market was built there in 1896. Newhaven fishwives, with their distinctive striped clothes, sold their goods around Edinburgh. David Octavius Hill and Robert Adamson famously photographed these fishwives and other Newhaven residents in the 1840's. The area now has a population of roughly five thousand.

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Related subjects

People > Adults > Men

People > Adults > Women

People > Agriculture and fisheries > Fishermen

People > Agriculture and fisheries > Fisherwomen

Places > Edinburgh areas > Newhaven

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

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