Before moving to south Norfolk I lived in north Norfolk, in Cromer – home of the famous Cromer crab.
I was frequently out on a crab boat, helping where I could.
I was fascinated with the whole crab fishing process and the industry in general, which continues to make up the very fabric of Cromer.
The industry has been a staple of the town for centuries, with generations of families continuing the tradition across the decades.
On the early morning trips to sea I was constantly amazed at how peaceful it often was as the sun rose and the fleet of boats took to the waters.
Cromer crab is a delicacy and most people know it as they see it for sale in shops nestled throughout the town, but I thought that people who hadn’t seen the process from pot to plate, like I had, would find it equally fascinating.
So, on one trip, myself and fisherman Martin Newlands were joined by local photographer Chris Taylor, who documented the trip.
On a recent visit back to the town I saw that morning’s catch being landed and I was reminded of the photos and what a valuable insight they give into the industry that is so important to the town.
The photos were originally posted on twitter through the account of the Gangway Crab Shop which has now closed. We tweeted a photo every day for 40 days, photo by photo revealing a typical morning at sea for one of the town’s fishermen.
Here is the sequence of photographs as it originally appeared, showing the whole process from pot to plate.
1 – taken at 4am just before launching to sea…the boat Samara2- taken at 4.45am after launching to sea from Cromer beach, approaching the first buoy3 – taken at 4.45am after launching to sea, Cromer beach is in the distance as the boat heads ut to sea4 – taken at 5am as the boat approaches its first shank of pots off Cromer5 – taken at 5.05am as the first shank of pots is hauled6 – taken at 5.10am as the rope is set on the hauler from the first shank of pots7 – taken at 5.20am as the first pot of the morning is hauled on board8 – taken at 5.25am, the first crab of the morning is caught9 – taken at 5.55am, the first shank of pots are set back out at sea ready for the next day’s catch10 – taken at 6am, the boat approaches the second shank of pots, will the first lobster of the day be hauled?11 – taken at 6.15am, the first lobster of the morning12 – taken at 6.30am, the lobsters claws are banded as the boat heads to another shank of pots13 – taken at 6.40am, delicious Cromer crabs are landed on board the boat14 – taken at 6.50am, the pots are stacked as another shank of pots is hauled into the boat from the North Sea15 – taken at 6.55am, the catch is sorted16 – taken at 7.05am, the pots are prepared to be placed back at sea ready for the next day’s haul17 – taken at 7.10am, the anchor at the end of a shank is thrown back to sea18 – taken at 7.15am the boat heads to the fifth shank of pots19 – taken at 7.30am the lobster’s claws are banded before the journey back to shore20 – taken at 7.30am, a glorious Cromer lobster up close21 – taken at 7.40am, the crabs are sorted as the pots are hauled aboard22 – taken at 7.50am, a twisted rope is freed on a shank of pots23 – taken at 7.55am the lobsters are checked as they are taken out of the pots24 – taken at 8am, the famous Cromer lobster25 – taken at 8.05am, the catch is sorted from the last shank of pots26 – taken at 8.10am, the last pot of the day is hauled on board27 – taken at 8.15am, the last shank of pots are returned to the sea28 – taken at 8.20am, the crabs are checked from the last pot of the day prior to heading home29 – taken at 8.25am, delicious Cromer lobsters are prepared for the trip back to shore30 – taken at 8.25am, delicious Cromer crabs are ready for the journey back to shore31 – taken at 8.30am, as the boat approaches Cromer32 – taken at 8.35am, the boat is landed as Martin jumps out to get the tractor33 – taken at 8.40am, the boat is attached to the tractor ready to be hauled onto the trailer34 – this sign was 50 yards from the shop and 50 yards from the beach, you don’t get food miles much shorter35 – the crabs are dressed, the lobsters prepared and the sandwiches made – the shop is open36 – during the season the shop was open 7 days a week, weather depending37 – happy customers buying delicious Cromer crab and lobster38 – the delicious Cromer lobsters are ready and on sale39 – customers queue up to get their claws on delicious Cromer crabs and lobsters40 – after a busy morning at sea, the crabs and lobsters are on sale and it’s time for a cuppa
I hope you’ve enjoyed this insight into crab fishing in Cromer – the Cromer crab might not be the biggest in the country but they are certainly the tastiest…
Lovely pictures. Bringing back memories of when I used to go out with Shrimp Davies, when I came home on leave from the RN. John Lee was the other man on board, we were at school together. No elastic bands f of r the lobsters. The claws were tied with line,all done by hand.
What beautiful photo’s! I love Cromer we are so lucky to live just 25mins away. Lovely to see how the crabs are caught.
Glad you enjoyed it! Cromer is such a fabulous place…
Lovely pictures. Bringing back memories of when I used to go out with Shrimp Davies, when I came home on leave from the RN. John Lee was the other man on board, we were at school together. No elastic bands f of r the lobsters. The claws were tied with line,all done by hand.
What great memories, did it take long to tie the claws with line?