Flamborough Marine Limited, The Manor House, Flamborough, Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire. YO15 1PD
We specialize in
authentic hand-knitted
Ganseys, traditional
knitwear (including
machine-knitted
Guersneys), and Armor
Lux Breton shirts
A Unique Garment
Old sepia photographs
evoke the romance of far-
off times. Yet there was
little romantic in the life of
a North Sea fisherman at
the turn of the century
when most days involved a
struggle against the
elements. Life could be
just as hard for the
womenfolk.
Days were long but, in
addition to such essential
tasks as baiting the lines,
time would be set aside for
gansey knitting, either for
members of the immediate
family or else for sale to
raise a few extra shillings.
Great pride was taken in
this knitting, especially for
the ‘Sunday best’ gansey
(often not in the traditional
navy) to be worn at such
occasions as the
Flamborough sword-
dancing or Filey
fishermen’s choir, both of
which still thrive today.
The GANSEY ?
A Gansey is a distinctive
woollen sweater, originally
designed to provide
protection for fishermen
from wind and water but
which is ideal for all
outdoor activity. Using a
tightly spun 5-ply worsted
wool (popularly known as
"Seamen's Iron") the
intricately patterned
Gansey is knitted in one
piece on five steel needles.
The patterning to back and
front and, in some cases,
the upper part of the
sleeve provides an extra
layer of protection, while
the combination of
seamless construction, fine
wool and tight knitting
produced a garment that is
both wind and waterproof.
Indeed, every part of the
garment is designed with
practicality in mind.
The wool is knitted tightly
so as to "turn water"; the
lack of seams ensures
greater strength and
impermeability; the
underarm gusset allows
freedom of movement; the
lower sleeves where most
wear is sustained, are left
plain so the worn part can
be unravelled and re-
knitted, while the
patterning across the chest
provides extra insulation.
Flamborough Marine :
Flamborough Marine commenced trading in 1981. Initially the stock consisted of
readily available machine-knitted sweaters of a traditional design (for example,
Guernseys, Alderneys and Bretons). As an antique shop was also run from the
same premises we began to receive inquiries for ‘antique sweaters’, that is, the
hand-knitted ganseys which were once so much a feature of the fishing
communities, but which had become generally unavailable. We contacted a long-
time resident of Flamborough, Nora Woodhouse, who knitted our first ganseys
(from memory) in several different North-East Coast patterns. She had originally
been taught to knit ganseys before the war by her fisherman father after her
mother had been drowned at Robin Hood’s Bay. From Nora’s ganseys we were
able to make charts of the patterns which, beforehand, had never normally been
written down but, rather, were passed on by word of mouth.
Our idea was two-fold. First to offer an outlet for the sale of ganseys once we had
recruited knitters; and second, to package a kit containing the wool, needles, and
our own charts so that the art of gansey knitting could be spread even more
widely and not limited to those within our immediate vicinity. As the first step in
this plan we advertised for experienced knitters who might be interested in
knitting with five steel needles and showed them what we wanted. Of the
hundred initial replies only ten decided to persevere. We supplied these first ten
with needles, wool, charts and instructions and began to build up a stock of
ganseys. During the succeeding years some knitters have dropped out and others
have taken their places. One thing however has remained constant and that is the
premises in Flamborough where the various ganseys are displayed. We believe
that we offer the only outlet for the authentic finished product. Without this outlet
the knitters would have nowhere to sell their wares and the art of gansey knitting
(for, although a craft, the work itself is so intricate as to be rightly called an art
form) would again be in danger of disappearing.
Web-site Design & Content
© 2013 Geoffrey Miller
Flamborough Marine Ltd
The Manor House
Flamborough
Bridlington
East Riding of Yorkshire
YO15 1PD
telephone: 01262 850943
fax: 01262 850943
mobile: 07718 415234
Email:
gm@flamboroughmarine.co.uk
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