Monument record MDO8171 - The Fishery, Wareham

The `several salmon fishery in the River Frome at Wareham was possibly first mentioned in a grant to the monks of Wareham Priory in 1160, and during King Johns (1199-1216) reign. A several fishery was the property of the Crown, being severed from the ownership of the adjoining land. During the 13th and succeeding centuries the fishery is well documented, and in 1582 it passed from the Crown into private hands but the Fisheries Act of 1861 deprived the owner of the monopoly of salmon fishing here. A stone structure, 30ft long, 5ft thick and 4 1/2ft high was discovered in 1950 just south of Castle Close on a former river bed, and was identified as a 12th century weir. A large post-hole a little way out from the structure, and another substantial wall about 5 yards out in the old river bed, downstream of the first wall, also substantiated the identification. The date when the weir (or `Kidel) was abandoned is unknown but it may coincide with the making of the new river course (from SY 921870 to 922871) in the 13th century. During the succeeding centuries there are references to timber-built weirs connected with the fishery, and Hutchins states that in repairing the hoop-net weir (shown on his plan of 1767 at SY 921887) large oak posts or piles were discovered in the bottom or bed of the river, the remains of ancient wears (weirs). <2>

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey 25 inch scale map, 1936 (Map). SDO18020.

The Fishery (NAT)

<2> Clark H J S, 1950, Salmon Fishery and the Weir at Wareham, 99-110 (Article in serial). SWX3036.

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 456710 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

May 31 2023 4:08PM