Sandstell Fishing Shiel Restoration
Donation protected
Sandstell Fishing Shiel dates back to 1735 at this location on Sandstell Road in Spittal, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland. We believe that the building was originally either turfed or thatched and it is divided into two separate rooms, being the base for the net fishing at Sandstell and Hallowstell on the estuary of the River Tweed.
As the local voluntary community group, Spittal Improvement Trust (SIT), aim to restore the building and turn it into a bothy for, walkers and cyclists, and a community run cafe, which will also help to depict the local historic salmon net fishing.
The building is Grade II listed and will undergo a full external and internal restoration but SIT do not intend to carry out any unnecessary works that might ruin the buildings character. SIT regard the securing, conservation and presentation of the Shiel as one of its most urgent priorities. Salmon, and latterly herring, fishing were vital to the people in Spittal for employment, without this source of income local people would have had to seek employment outside the village, which would not have been as easy as it might be today.
The work is estimated to cost in the region of £180,000 but we hope to acquire the majority of this through the normal grant funding methods. We have raised this campaign to give everyone the opportunity to contribute to this project.
We hope to commence work on the project early in 2018, subject of course to achieving the necessary grant funding, and have the Shiel open by mid 2018. Once completed and opened it will be beneficial to the local community here in Spittal and to our visitors.
Thanks for reading this and your donation.
Mike Greener
Secretary
Spittal Improvement Trust
As the local voluntary community group, Spittal Improvement Trust (SIT), aim to restore the building and turn it into a bothy for, walkers and cyclists, and a community run cafe, which will also help to depict the local historic salmon net fishing.
The building is Grade II listed and will undergo a full external and internal restoration but SIT do not intend to carry out any unnecessary works that might ruin the buildings character. SIT regard the securing, conservation and presentation of the Shiel as one of its most urgent priorities. Salmon, and latterly herring, fishing were vital to the people in Spittal for employment, without this source of income local people would have had to seek employment outside the village, which would not have been as easy as it might be today.
The work is estimated to cost in the region of £180,000 but we hope to acquire the majority of this through the normal grant funding methods. We have raised this campaign to give everyone the opportunity to contribute to this project.
We hope to commence work on the project early in 2018, subject of course to achieving the necessary grant funding, and have the Shiel open by mid 2018. Once completed and opened it will be beneficial to the local community here in Spittal and to our visitors.
Thanks for reading this and your donation.
Mike Greener
Secretary
Spittal Improvement Trust
Organizer
Mike Greener
Organizer
