Records of salmon fishing on the River Tweed can be traced back as far as the ancient Romans and the days of the Scottish chief Calgacus around 85 AD.

Dedicated fisheries have been in evidence as early as the 11th century where one of the earliest Acts regulating this resource was passed by Wiliam the Lion of Scotland during his reign (1165 – 1214 AD). Though mentions of various claims to Tweed fishing rights prior to this period by local monks led to the name ‘Hallowstell’ (Spittal) meaning “Holy Fishing Ground”.

By the 13th Century vast numbers of wild salmon from Berwick Upon Tweed were pickled and exported as far as London where, due to it’s abundance and relative low cost, it was a main staple of the poorest of society.

By the late 20th century due to farmed Salmon competition and legislation many of the net fisheries loacted on the Tweed were beginning to close and by 1987 only a few remained, Gardo being one, a fishery which has been in existence far longer that the iconic 17th Century bridge of which it currently nestles below.
Gardo has now become the last of the commercial Fisheries left on the Tweed. It is therefore fitting that it lies in the heart of the town in which salmon fishing was a very important part of it’s 900 year history.