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 see them dressed and 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 to sea, 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 – 4am, just before launching to sea…the boat Samara2- 4.45am, after launching to sea from Cromer beach, approaching the first buoy3 – 4.45am, after launching to sea, Cromer beach is in the distance as the boat heads out to sea4 – 5am, as the boat approaches its first shank of pots off Cromer5 – 5.05am, as the first shank of pots is hauled6 – 5.10am, as the rope is set on the hauler from the first shank of pots7 – 5.20am, as the first pot of the morning is hauled on board8 – 5.25am, the first crab of the morning is caught9 – 5.55am, the first shank of pots are set back out at sea ready for the next day’s catch10 – 6am, the boat approaches the second shank of pots, will the first lobster of the day be hauled?11 – 6.15am, the first lobster of the morning12 – 6.30am, the lobster’s claws are banded as the boat heads to another shank of pots13 – 6.40am, delicious Cromer crabs are landed on board the boat14 – 6.50am, the pots are stacked as another shank of pots is hauled into the boat from the North Sea15 – 6.55am, the catch is sorted16 – 7.05am, the pots are prepared to be placed back at sea ready for the next day’s haul17 – 7.10am, the anchor at the end of a shank is thrown back to sea18 – 7.15am, the boat heads to the fifth shank of pots19 – 7.30am, the lobster’s claws are banded before the journey back to shore20 – 7.30am, a glorious Cromer lobster up close21 – 7.40am, the crabs are sorted as the pots are hauled aboard22 – 7.50am, a twisted rope is freed on a shank of pots23 – 7.55am the lobsters are checked as they are taken out of the pots24 – 8am, the famous Cromer lobster25 – 8.05am, the catch is sorted from the last shank of pots26 – 8.10am, the last pot of the day is hauled on board27 – 8.15am, the last shank of pots is returned to the sea28 – 8.20am, the crabs are checked from the last pot of the day prior to heading home29 – 8.25am, Cromer lobsters are prepared for the trip back to shore30 – 8.25am, Cromer crabs are ready for the journey back to shore31 – 8.30am, as the boat approaches Cromer32 – 8.35am, the boat is landed as Martin jumps out to get the tractor33 – 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, food miles don’t come much shorter35 – the crabs are dressed, the lobsters prepared and the sandwiches made – the shop is open36 – during the season the shop was open seven days a week, weather depending37 – happy customers buying Cromer crab and lobster38 – the 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 sweetest and 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?