Wonders of Northumberland - Holy Island’s Fishing Huts

Photograph by Callum Thompson (@adventure_cal)

In the past, when old fishing boats became too battered and worn to safely sail the seas, fishermen in the North East of England devised a clever way of putting their redundant vessels to work. Rather than hauling the boats to a junkyard, they flipped them over to transform them into storage sheds for nets and other equipment.

As the fishing industry has evolved, the places where you can find traditional huts have diminished. However, the Holy Island of Lindisfarne is one of the few places where the upturned fishing boats remain in abundance.

There are two main sites on the island where you can see the Lindisfarne boat sheds.

The Harbour Sheds - This is where the boats were pulled ashore. Next to the beach are 10 -15 sheds in various states of disrepair. These upturned boats are covered in tar for waterproofing and seem to be in that state of decay that often succumbs to huts and buildings positioned close to the sea. This along with the curvy shape results in buildings that have great presence and distinctive character.

The Castle Sheds - The castle boat sheds are on land owned by the National Trust and are located near the entrance to Lindisfarne castle. The original sheds in this location were installed by the Architect Sir Edwin Lutyens as part of a major refurbishment of the castle around the year 1908. However, tragedy struck in October 2005 when the sheds were set on fire in an arson attack. The nearest fire engine was on the mainland and couldn't reach the island until the tide had gone out and two of the three sheds were burnt beyond repair, with the third being severely damaged. Thankfully the sheds were replaced the following year and exist in a much better condition than the harbour sheds.