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.
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.
© Flamborough Marine Limited 2012
Contact Information
Flamborough Marine Limited
The Manor House
Flamborough
Bridlington
East Riding of Yorkshire
YO15 1PD
United Kingdom
Telephone & fax:
01262 850943
International:
+44 1262 850943
E-mail:
gm@flamboroughmarine.co.uk
Flamborough Marine
Your source for authentic
hand-knitted Ganseys,
Gansey Knitting Kits, plus a
range of quality, traditional
knitwear and Armor Lux
pure cotton Breton shirts
We pride ourselves on our
personal attention to detail. If
you are at all unsure about any
aspect of our products,
telephone, fax, write or e-mail
us with your query which will
be answered promptly and, we
hope, knowledgeably. We wish
to ensure that you are
completely satisfied before
making a purchase, as well as
after.
Man the Life-Boat
The print above, showing a
fisherman running through the
streets of a small northern
fishing village shouting "All
hands man the Life-Boat!" is
dated 26 November 1887. The
fisherman is clearly wearing a
Gansey which, upon closer
inspection, is almost certainly
that of the Cullercoats Rocket
Brigade.
Over a century later, the same
pattern can be knitted, and in
the same method, all-in-one
piece, on five needles, in the
finest quality 5-ply worsted
wool. If the fisherman returned
today, he would find a few things
still familiar in Flamborough, and
much that was alien. The fishing
boats (known locally as "cobles")
would still be instantly
recognizable, as would
Flamborough lighthouse and, if
he walked into the premises of
Flamborough Marine, upon my
soul, he would find a match for
his own Gansey.
Sizing Information for
machine-knits
[Additional sizing information
for hand-knitted Ganseys can
be found here.]
Size exchanges can be a
nuisance but can, hopefully, be
avoided if you follow our sizing
guidelines. If possible, select a
similar style of knitwear or T-
shirt which you currently wear
and feel comfortable in, and
measure across the chest, from
underarm to underarm, as
shown in the image above.
Double this measurement to
arrive at the actual garment
size. Then compare the
measurement of your garment,
in inches, to the ones shown on
each product page.
Please do not confuse the
measurements we show on
each page with a person’s body
measurement; the
measurements listed are the
actual dimensions of our
knitwear and Breton shirts.
A size 44 Guernsey sweater, for
example, will measure 44
inches all round, but this does
not fit a 44 inch chest, it will be
suitable for someone with a
chest measurement of 40 or 42
inches.
Please do take the time to
measure your own garments
before you order, to prevent
size exchanges. We keep our
costs to a minimum, to offer
the best possible price, and will
have to pass on the cost of
return postage for exchanged
items.
Pricing Information
We are not part of the VAT
(Value Added Tax) scheme. All
prices shown on this web-site
are NET with postage only to
be added to mail orders.
Details of postage charges for
UK and International
destinations are shown on the
"Ordering" page.
An article in "Classic Boat" magazine, which featured our Ganseys, resulted in queries
and orders from around the world. In Bielefeld, Germany Iris Heyer noticed the article,
showed it to her husband, and we soon received a telephone call from Thomas Heyer,
to order a Flamborough Gansey. A few weeks after it arrived, Thomas' brother Hans
saw the Gansey and was hooked! Hans ordered a Filey Gansey. And here they are,
proudly wearing their Ganseys at the Rum-Regatta in Flensburg, a Regatta for
traditional Sailing boats which is held each year in the North of Germany. The Ganseys
proved to be immensely useful, fighting cold temperatures and wind forces up to 6 on
the Beaufort scale!
In the photograph, taken by Iris, the Filey Gansey on the left is worn by Hans, and, at
right the Flamborough Gansey worn by Thomas. (The photograph was kindly supplied
by Hans, who added: "It is great that you took the effort in reviving this old knitting
craft and our admiration goes to the knitters for their skills!")
and orders from around the world. In Bielefeld, Germany Iris Heyer noticed the article,
showed it to her husband, and we soon received a telephone call from Thomas Heyer,
to order a Flamborough Gansey. A few weeks after it arrived, Thomas' brother Hans
saw the Gansey and was hooked! Hans ordered a Filey Gansey. And here they are,
proudly wearing their Ganseys at the Rum-Regatta in Flensburg, a Regatta for
traditional Sailing boats which is held each year in the North of Germany. The Ganseys
proved to be immensely useful, fighting cold temperatures and wind forces up to 6 on
the Beaufort scale!
In the photograph, taken by Iris, the Filey Gansey on the left is worn by Hans, and, at
right the Flamborough Gansey worn by Thomas. (The photograph was kindly supplied
by Hans, who added: "It is great that you took the effort in reviving this old knitting
craft and our admiration goes to the knitters for their skills!")
In addition to supplying Ganseys
such as those above, we also sell
Gansey Knitting Kits, to knit your
own. Each Kit contains 5-ply worsted
Guernsey wool, a set of five double-
ended 2.5 mm steel needles,
individual body and sleeve charts,
and full instructions for the pattern
of your choice. A copy of the fully
illustrated soft-back book "Patterns
for Guernseys, Jerseys & Arans" by
Gladys Thompson is also available as
an optional extra.
Taking advantage of this, keen
knitter Brenda Duthie has produced
a beautiful example, shown at left,
using one of our Kits with Amethyst
5-ply wool. As she noted in the letter
accompanying the photograph, "This
is a female from Fraserburgh
wearing her Fraserburgh Gansey at
Fraserburgh harbour beside a
Fraserburgh boat!"
Robin Hood's Bay Ganseys worn by Victorian Fishermen
One of the most prominent features on the East Coast of England, Flamborough Head juts out five
miles into the North Sea. It is the most northerly chalk outcrop and the largest sea-bird breeding
colony in England. The village, in the centre of the headland, is exposed on three sides to the sea
and to the constant wind. It was to help protect against these elements that the Ganseys were
first produced, hundreds of years ago. Then they were fashioned, as they still are today, by the
knitters of Flamborough Marine, entirely in one piece using five steel needles.
Bempton Cliffs at Flamborough Head, site of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds reserve.
The chalk cliffs here are a sheer 300 feet drop into the North Sea.
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