The Society of Free Fishermen of Newhaven

Our Wednesday walk today was around the old fishing village of Newhaven. This carving on one of the buildings in Main Street marks the site of the meeting hall of the Society of Free Fishermen of Newhaven - one of the earliest 'Friendly Societies' in Scotland.
Dating from the 16th Century, it was formed to provide support for the poor of the village. Later it's role was more specifically to provide help and support to fishermen and their families if they fell on hard times.
It survived until the late 1980's when changes to regulation of financial services resulted in the society being dissolved.