South Quay, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
This photograph shows a group of 'herring girls' on the quayside, next to the fishing boats. These were often Scottish women who travelled down the coast, following the herring, with the fishermen. It was their job to gut the herring ready for packing. It was a hard and filthy job. They rented rooms in the town whilst they were here. Several girls would have had to share one room. Those renting out the rooms often covered the walls in newspaper to 'soak up' the smell of fish. The newspapers were then taken down and burnt after the girls had moved on.
