Ropetackle was delighted to take part in Shoreham’s Gadget Trail last weekend (17th and 18th September.)  The free event brought a steady crowd into the venue (including the game-for-a-laugh Vinicombe family, pictured!) who had to guess what the mysterious netted gadget was for.

Ropetackle was one of 25 local shops, eateries, galleries and businesses taking part in the Heritage Open Day event, organised by the Shoreham Society, and part of a weekend of “astounding inventions, walks and talks.” Participants were encouraged to visit each establishment and discover their showcased “gadget” and learn something new.

Guesses for our “Big Net” ranged from shark-catcher to alligator-trap, but Mr Vinicombe was on the right track with mussel-catcher. The net, on loan from a Shoreham Beach resident, is actually a SHRIMPING NET, which dredges the sand and seabed to expose shrimps.

Of course, these aren’t used much today but they used to be a common sight at low tide. It was chosen for its river and seaside connections, as part of the Ropetackle site’s heritage.