Autumn on The Grit - Lowestoft’s long-lost fishing village comes to life

Dean Parkin, who co-wrote the book of 'The Grit' with Jack Rose, shares stories, photos, archive audio and film about Lowestoft's long-lost fishing village in its busy autumn months.

In the early 1900s Lowestoft's fishing village – known locally as The Grit – was the most easterly community in the country. It was home to 2,500 people, three schools, churches, shops and 13 pubs. By the 1960s the village had declined and autumn 1967 saw the demolition of many houses, pubs and streets to make way for a new industrial estate.

In its heyday, however, autumn was the liveliest time of year on The Grit. The village was buzzing with the herring fishing and its population doubled with the arrival of the Scots fisher girls and fishing fleets.

'On 12th October 1913, 10 million herring were caught. One boat netted £3,240. In today's money that's £340,000. In ONE DAY made by ONE BOAT at Lowestoft in 1913.'
from 'Pearls from The Grit'

Autumn is also when the local children – who had spent the summer with the north beach as their playground – returned to one of the three schools in the village.

"On our way to school we would run and kick the herring barrels so the brine would go all over the boy running behind us! After that, if you got to school at Mariners Score, sat near the stoves and got hot, you would really stink of fish!"
Ronnie James from 'The Grit' book

Dean Parkin – writer/narrator of the ‘Pearls from The Grit’ theatre show – mixes stories, photos, archive audio & video to create a unique and entertaining film picture show of autumn in the most easterly fishing village. With incidental music composed & performed by Maurice Horhut.