Sgadan Abergwaun

Fishguard herrings: the raison d'etre of the original settlement, the backbone of the economy at one time, the nickname for the local people, the name of the sculpture, and what else? Oh yes, good to eat if you can get them - which you rarely can now.

Fishguard's English name is thought to come from the Norse 'fish yard' at the time the Vikings came to fish these rich shores. A village grew up and existed on its catch of 'silver darlings' which were exported, packed in salt in barrels, as well as eaten in situ, a nutritious staple fare. The economy flourished and supported a multiplicity of fisher people, boat builders, barrel makers, fish packers as well as a network of trade links by land and sea.

Then, quite suddenly at the end of the 18th century, the shoals failed to arrive and never came again. The population dwindled with the fish and the locals had to find other sources of income. The town re-established itself further up the hill as road transport became more important. Although fishing out of the harbour continued, along with boat building and trading, the sea's abundance was a thing of the past.

There was treasure here still though, in the form of clean seas, a beautiful coast and a pretty old fishing village that has for years attracted artists and creative souls of all sorts. One such was the artist John Cleal who made this sculpture as a tribute to his adopted home. Born in Johannesburg, he left South Africa in 1961 after the Sharpeville massacre and came by chance to Fishguard. He lived in Lower Town for over 30 years, painting and crafting, raising a large family and attracting a coterie of other artists. Like the herrings, they brought richness to the area. Some have stayed, others have moved on. John Cleal died here in old age in 2007 not long after he had completed the sculpture. It has been mounted on top of an enormous Preseli boulder set along the quayside and is a memorial as much to him as to the lost shoals.

Sgadan Abergwaun: a recipe.