Exhibition Opening Event : May 15th 6pm - 7pm

Exhibition 15th May - 5th June 2026

Talk: 23rd May 7pm (doors 6.30pm) : Free

Along the North East coast, the humble Gansey tells a story of sea, labour and community. Hand-knitted in tightly spun wool, these distinctive fishermen’s sweaters were designed to withstand the harsh weather of the North Sea while carrying the identity of the coastal villages that made them. Each pattern—of ropes, ladders, waves and herringbones—held meaning, often unique to a family or port.

This exhibition explores the gansey not only as clothing, but as a cultural language of the coast. Through historic examples, contemporary interpretations and personal stories, we trace how these garments connect generations of fishers, knitters and communities from Northumberland to Yorkshire. The gansey becomes both archive and artwork: a record of working lives shaped by the sea.

Together, these pieces honour a tradition where craft, survival and belonging were woven—quite literally—into every stitch.

From Sea to StitchTalk: 23rd May - 7pm (doors 6.30pm). FREE

From Sea to Stitch: Join Deb Gillanders from Proper Gansey to uncover the history and meaning of the iconic North East fishermen’s Ganseys.

Photo : Courtesy of Anna Williams