The social history of a medieval fish weir, c. 600–2020

This article presents the longue durée social history of a medieval fish weir. It reveals significant role fishing and weirs in construction reconstruction structures cultural identities. focuses on an enigmatic annual ceremony – Horngarth or Penny Hedge at Whitby, North Yorkshire. The begins by arguing that descends from intertidal weir, before exploring possible contexts which weir originated circumstances perpetuated its to sixteenth century. proceeds consider changes undermined original function transformed significance sixteenth, seventeenth eighteenth centuries, how tradition invented about it became important local identity national reputation town.