Pittenweem Fishermen’s Memorial dedicated to the Fife fishermen lost at sea

A sculpture of a woman and child looking forlornly out to see stands in the Scottish fishing village of Pittenweem (Scottish Gaelic: Baile na h-Uaimh). Created by sculptor Alan Herriot it bears the inscription: “The memorial is dedicated to the men and women who make their living from the sea and to those who have lost their lives in doing so.” The sculpture was unveiled in 2019  after a fundraising drive by the Pittenweem Fishermen’s Memorial Association. 

The memorial brings into focus the perils faced by those whose livelihood depends upon fishing off our Celtic coasts and indeed anywhere around the world.  The sculpture is also an emotive piece of art which evokes the nature and dangers of the fishing industry. It stands as a reminder of the importance of fishing to the history and heritage of  Pittenweem and the East Neuk coast of Fife (Scottish Gaelic: Fìobha).in which it is situated. 

The name Pittenweek derives from a combination of the Celtic Pictish and Scottish Gaelic languages. "Pit-" represents Pictish pett 'place, portion of land', and "-enweem" is Gaelic na h-Uaimh, 'of the Caves' in Gaelic, so "The Place of the Caves". There are a number of caves along this coast, but the most famous is St Fillan's cave. St Fillan's Cave is located in a sandstone outcrop, a short distance north of Pittenweem harbour. Saint Fillan is said to have resided in the cave around 640 AD and it contains a spring and a well named in his honour. There is a 17th century doorway at the entrance, along with a small window cut into the rock. The cave borders the original outer wall of Pittenweem Priory and monks carved a stairway and cellar in the cave, with an opening into the grounds of the priory. This was an Augustinian priory dating to 1318 AD.

Image: Courtsey of Pittenweem Fishermen’s Memorial Association.