Before the days of Gore-Tex, Sheringham fishermen relied on tightly knitted woollen jumpers called ganseys to protect them from the cold wind and spray of the North Sea.

The knowledge of how to make these jumpers was almost lost.

However now a project at Sheringham Museum to research and record the area's traditional ganseys has helped remove the craft from the Heritage Crafts Association’s endangered list.

Curator Lisa Little and volunteer Lesley Lougher started the project to highlight the fineness of the garments and the skill of Sheringham’s prolific knitters.

The museum is also home to the Olive Edis photography collection, a treasure trove of early 20th-century images of local fishermen.

Belsha Johnson wearing a gansey with a basket weave pattern, taken c 1905 (Image: Olive Edis) Sally Middleton wearing a gansey waistcoat, taken c 1905 (Image: Olive Edis) From the high-resolution glass plate negatives, volunteers can pick out stitch patterns in incredible detail.

Heavy, close-fitting jumpers, ganseys are known for their exceptionally fine gauge, sometimes up to 14 stitches per inch.

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