Here in fact:
photo from here, where there are some other great pictures of the Thames path.
I've heard tell there are fascinating historical finds to be made along the banks of the Thames, (and there was someone there with a metal detector) but despite working right there by the river, I've not found time - before Friday - to go down the steps from the Thames path by the Naval College which you can see in the picture, down onto the pebbles.
It was a thankfully-snatched lunch break in the midst of a gruellingly hectic day, and it did feel a bit like being by the sea... especially when a boat went by, making waves at the rivers edge. I closed my eyes and listened to the swell of the surf washing the edge of the riverbanks.
In places the banks of the Thames are more mud than anything, but by Greenwich there are lots of pebbles and flinty stones, even patches of sand - there were some shells, even riverglass though most of it wasn't caressed and washed smooth quite like seaglass. There were deformed and rusty chunks of metal and a lot of smooth strangely angled pieces which I think were bone.
My inability to leave a beach without one or two "combings" clearly extends to riverbanks as well - I did pick up and pocket a couple of things.
The heart of the larger stone is sparkly quartz.
I went back into the office with heavier pockets and a lighter heart.
17 comments:
I too have read about things still washing up from as far back as the Roman occupation. Can just imagne what you'd find, given a full day for larking about. That bottom bit is ready-made for a necklace :)
What fun. Maybe you were a mudlark in a previous life. This is a most enjoyable pastime, you never know what you might find, are you allowed to keep everything you find from the Thames.
Pretty cool and to walk around buildings like those.....; )
I love London. I went to a couple of Reclaim the Beach parties under festival pier. Doing the lambarda with driftwood underneath the watchful gaze of the police. Such a fluffy party and so nice these ancient laws allow us access to the tidal beaches of the Thames.
I wonder if that larger piece is the ramains of a geode.
What a lovely river tale, Lettie,.
and a lovely example of what a few minutes in the open air and away from the compressive atmosphere of the office can do. :))
There was a report on the TV just recently about the fantastic finds by the side of the Thames. I like the stones you found. :)
Fascinating!
hello, Lettuce! Roman finds, eh, per Subby? Could be.
Hi Lettuce,
Those are some interesting finds. I wish you more lunch breaks like this one!
If only those finds could talk. There's probably an interesting story behind every stone.
Sounds like the best lunch ever!
It is so important to take care of ourselves in these simple ways. Taking a walk by the water, collecting bits of interesting things, watching people, closing our eyes, getting away. So easy to neglect this when all is hectic and crazed. I hope you continue to take care of your heart.
A good way to spend your lunch hour AND you found treasure:)
oh...very nice. my boys would call that treasure!
It's so great to take a break, isn't it? I think that larger stone may be a little geode!
Another vote for the geode here. Great post.
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