Before 1909, there were 23 families earning a living from fishing out of Sidmouth.

Sadly, the boats and the fishermen are now long gone but thanks to Vernon Bartlett, their memories survive.

The fishermen all had nicknames and these included: Gully Bartlett, Tiller Badcock, Haunches Dunsford, Knocker Drewe, Lawyer Dunn, Neebee Woolley, Nobby Barrett, Scalby Peppererall, Muggity Perry, Tyburn Denner, Swanker Hayman, Smokey Richards, Smut Hayman, Teaser Teed, Sherb Horrell, Prickle Thorne, Pudge Holland, Pickle Maeer, Chungy Emmett, Big End Churchill, Buckle Vanstone, Bunty Baker, Conker Ryall, Curly Harris, Chip Mortimore, Fatty Pidgeon, Fido Martin, Gummer Green, Doctor Grant, Stumper Wood, Jerker Thomas, Yippy Holland, Bloomers Manley, Bender Dunn, Blummer Irish, Bubbler Gigg, Archer Dagworthy, Scoots Knight, Sonny French, Rabbit Batten, Rumpy Rowlands, Rocksand Harris, Murphy Purchase, Lofty Selley and many, many more!

Two salty sea dogs

Boats on Sidmouth seafront

Boots outside public saloon

Fishermen with dogs

Fisherman with net

Catch of the day

Fishing boats on the water

Fishermen with nets and pots on Sidmouth beach

Ship's boy

Fishermen with net and boat

More by Graham Symington:

1. The history of the now-demolished Blackmore Hall
2. The history of Sidmouth's Connaught Gardens
3. A dancing bear, girls of bad character and smuggling: The history of Sidmouth's The Old Ship Inn
4. Sidmouth, Jane Austen and ITV's Sanditon
5. The history of The Byes, in pictures
6. Tar Barrels... in Sidmouth?
7. Remembering Pike's Cottages
8. Sidmouth's old toll houses
9. Policing in Victorian and Edwardian Sidmouth
10. The history of The Ham
11. Early Sidmouth houses