Our work
Work in progress
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The start
The start
Early April 2011
The closest a truck or van is able to get to the bridge is 100 yards (110 m) and 30 steps away. All materials and equipment needs to be carried across this distance and over the rope bridge. And bricks, blogs and bags of cement are a heavy load indeed.
© Peter O'Neill
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First results
First results
Late April 2011
Before the main works on the cottage can start our wardens need to re-build a retaining wall and move a landslide behind it.
© Peter O'Neill
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Discovery
Discovery
May 2011
While clearing the landslide we found a couple of the old, original stone steps leading up from the fishery to the path back to the bridge.
© Caroline Redmond
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Inventory
Inventory
June 2011
The collection in the workshop side of the cottage was inventoried and packed up during a volunteer day, so that the room can be refurbished.
© Caroline Redmond
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Step by step
Step by step
August 2011
After our discovery of the original stone steps back in May, we've now started to re-build the remaining steps to re-connect the cottage to the path leading back to the rope bridge.
© Gerard Lynch
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Volunteer day
Volunteer day
September 2011
With help from enthusiastic volunteers we're cleared the second room. Nets and other equipment was sorted and inventoried. It will all go into storage now. The next step will be to refurbish this room.
© Caroline Redmond
The start
First results
Discovery
Inventory
Step by step
Volunteer dayProject overview
The last fishermen in action before the salmon fishery closed
The thrill of crossing the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge has tempted visitors since the eighteenth century. But the only reason the bridge was erected in the first place was the salmon fishery on the small island; once a very productive industry. Now, it is a distant memory for most. We want to bring back what got lost.
Project timeline
- put in place project facilitator for 6 months by July 2011
- carry out oral history research by September 2011
- refurbish and install boats by March 2012
- refurbish salmon fishery cottage by April 2012
- install interpretation at Weighbridge tea-room by June 2012
- install exhibition at fishery by June 2012
- complete landscaping fishery by June 2012
History: Carrick-a-Rede salmon fishery
Carrick-a-Rede salmon fishery in 1880
© NT/Carrick-a-Rede
The rope bridge at Carrick-a-Rede attracts many tourists to the North Antrim coast every year. Most of them will never know that the bridge was first erected by fishermen more than 250 years ago. The Atlantic salmon was the fish they were after and for a long time a flourishing industry marked this place.