Origins

For centuries fish and shellfish formed an important part of the local diet, but early fishermen were also agricultural labourers, smallholders and small-scale farmers. By 1840 this had changed. Dr Edward de Vitre:

" The male inhabitants of these villages [centred on Poulton] are almost exclusively engaged in fishing for herrings, flatfish, shrimps, cockles and mussels. [from which they earned] . a very large sum of money., yet such are their thriftless and improvident habits, that they are almost all in a state of great poverty " .

The overall life expectancy of members of the fishing community at this time was only 24 years.