4 out of 5 stars

The publisher provided a copy of this free of charge in return for an honest review.

Chesil Beach is an amazing geological phenomenon. This 18-mile-long bank of shingle stretches from Portland to the golden cliffs of West Bay and is a unique part of the Dorset coastline. I have visited a couple of times and it is quite something to behold.

The way that the waves form it is quite special too, the waves effectively grade the shingle from large pebbles at Portland to pea-sized stones at West Bay. It is always said that smugglers who knew the beach very well knew exactly where they were by the size of the pebbles underfoot. Not sure if it is true or not, but I think it is a great piece of local folklore.

This special place also bred a strong community in the villages along the fleet. Many of the locals were involved in the seine-net fishing for mackerel along the shore. Spotters on the hill would see the way that the water would be changed as the fish came in and send word to the crews. They would head out into the waves in their boats called Lerrets to catch the shoals.

It was tough, cold work, but the bonds between the crews and the families that supported them were strong. This closed group of fishermen didn’t always see eye to eye, there are a number of tales about fights breaking out as they sought to get the best catches, but they all looked out for each other.

And within living memory, the fish went and this method of fishing that had thrived for hundreds of years has pretty much vanished.

I thought this was a fascinating book about how they fished off Chesil Beach. Sarah Acton has got the balance right with the interview parts of the book and the background of the families that she has researched to fill in the gaps in the story. It is such a shame that this has been lost in living memory. There are still people keeping the boats going, but these men are getting older now, which may be another thing lost too. It is a bit of a niche book, but if you are fascinated by Dorset’s rich history this is a must-read.

Spread the love