The Food Heritage
of Berwick-upon-Tweed
PRESS RELEASE
Today, a group of food enthusiasts in Berwick-upon-Tweed is announcing plans to celebrate
the rich food heritage of this historic border town and the surrounding area, thanks
to a grant of up to £49,800 from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The project is being run by Slow Food Berwick-upon-Tweed and will involve people
in local communities researching, recording and presenting all aspects of food production
and processing in their district in the past and the present.
The town’s name comes from the Anglo-Saxon “bere-wic”, meaning “barley farm” and
barley continues to be a staple of the local economy today. Although farming, fishing
and cooking have developed over the centuries, traditional skills are maintained
by many local farmers, fishermen and food producers. Salmon are still caught in
the Tweed at Berwick using the age-old method of net and coble, bees make honey in
hives scattered in the fields and hills of Northumberland, kippers are produced in
the 19th century smokehouse at Seahouses and the cornmill at Heatherslaw still uses
water power to grind flour for use by local bakers.
Liz Houghton, leader of the Slow Food Berwick-upon-Tweed group, says: “In recent
years there has been an increasing interest in understanding where our food comes
from and its relationship with the culture and landscapes of the places where it
is produced. This exciting project will encourage local people of all ages to explore
the history of farming, fishing, food processing and cooking in the area.”
Plans for the project include creating food heritage trails and gathering pictures,
oral accounts and material showing how food production has changed over the years.
Project co-ordinator Derek Sharman is inviting local people to join in this initiative.
“I would like to hear from anyone who has photographs that illustrate farming, fishing
or food processing in the area. We also want to encourage amateur photographers
to help us record these activities through the seasons in the area today.”
Another element of the project will involve young people investigating and using
imaginative ways of interpreting topics relating to food in 19th century Berwick,
from the poor folk in the workhouse to the soldiers in the barracks, from the occupants
of the richest merchant’s household to the prisoners in the town gaol.
The results of the project activities will be brought together in September 2009
to create an event based on the show organised in 1841 to mark the visit to Berwick-upon-Tweed
by the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland.
END
Notes to editors
1. The Slow Food Berwick-upon-Tweed was set up in July 2006.
2. As part of its activities the group organises a variety of events such as
tastings, dinners with a particular theme and visits to places with a food and drink
interest.
3. In September 2008, Slow Food Berwick-upon-Tweed is organising a major Food
Festival at locations around the town.
For more information about the Food Heritage of Berwick please contact
Derek Sharman, Project Co-ordinator, on 01289 330218 or mobile 07960 062005
For information about Slow Food Berwick-upon-Tweed contact
