The Detectorists…

Tags

Detectorists, Finds, History, Mudlark, Museum Of London, River Thames, Thomas Pearson, Token, Westminster Palace

My post have been far and few between in these early months of 2016. There have been few fishing forays as the weather and state of the rivers have dictated the opportunities to fish. Rivers running the colour of builders tea and water levels up to your nick-nacky – noos have meant the rods linger in there rests and the ratchets of reels don’t click.

With now only a couple of days away until the close season there will be no ‘classic coarse’ fishing until late June. For us we herald in the season for Trout, Sea-Trout and Salmon fishing and when time and weather permits lure fishing for Bass.

Having been feeling under the weather over the last couple of days I took to the river today under a clear blue sky and walked along the shoreline to see what the recent high Spring tides had scoured away and what it may reveal. In the distance I saw two camouflaged clad figures, for a moment I thought Members of TAC but soon it became apparent that they were ‘mudlarks’, Detectorists of the metal kind. 

Having struck up a conversation with these enthusiastic gentlemen they were open to sharing their knowledge of the river, their methods and finds. Whilst in mid-conversation one of them bent down, turning over the surface pea shingle and then between thumb and forefinger rubbing a small thin circular object, he stopped his patter and observed his find. ‘Can you see what it says’ as he passed the  20mm disc to me. I rubbed it in much the same way however I could feel the relief of the hammered token. With the warm air on this bright sunny March afternoon drying the token it revealed the wording The Olde Thomas Pearson on one side and In Westminster Pallace Yard on the reverse with His Half Penny in the centre. The condition of the token was simply breathtaking seeing that it was struck between 1648-1673 and had been covered by the river silt as its only protection.

Within a few feet another gleaming item appeared, this being a metal button made by Webb & Co London, again I was astonished as to its condition after the surface grime was rinsed off with water from the river.

I’m still amazed at what this river gives up or rather the things that have found their way into it. Each and every time I walk the shores of the River Thames  history unfolds beneath my feet, so much, so visible to the naked eye, yet thousands pass it by without a second thought.

It will be interesting to see what I may find next time out.

My thanks to the Detectorists who shared that special moment today. 

    
   

Low tide…

Tags

Artifacts, Barnes, chiswick, Corney Reach, Glass, Low Tide, River Thames, Roman

The air was crisp, a familiar wind barrelled down the river, the river ran fast as low tide approached on what was a bright and sunny February afternoon.

I took a couple of hours out of my day to walk along the river on the Middlesex bank towards Corney Reach as stretch of the Thames that run from Dukes Meadows towards the Chiswick Brewery know as the Fuller’s Brewery. This part of the Thames as a story of two to tell and is steeped in history. Here along the Thames are the remains of Saxon fish traps, plantations of willow once used by basket makers and the tell tale signs of an industrial past of boat building a wax works and the knowledge that settlement dating back to the Neolithic period and Roman Empire utilised this part of the Thames.

At low tide the riverbed reveals its historic past, clay pipes, ceramics, pottery, glass, metal and leather litter the shoreline. Each item gives a dateline to activity on a social and industrial level. Every decade and century leaves its stamp amongst the more contemporary detritus.

Their voices carried on the breeze, a group of children from one of the local schools exclaimed their excitement at finds in the shallow pools left by the outgoing tide. ‘A leech Miss, a leech Miss’ followed by ‘I’ve caught a shrimp Miss’ and then the shriek ‘ an eel’, all of this gave me a warm feeling as it means the state of the river has improved and running clean.

As I made my way across the stones and silt towards the drop off of the gardens where the edge of the river is scoured to reveal bars of sand fragments of pipes are bleach to their former white clay, fragments of clay pottery, blue and white china lay like confetti on the surface. One fragment of glass took my eye, it was the base of a glass Roman storage vessel. This fragment of glass was a mix of green and blue with a dimpled surface texture, this is one of my oldest finds. However I have found a flint arrow head which I assume pre-dates this along with the fossils of sea urchins and squid.

The whole area seems to speak to you about its past, its former market gardens, fishing and the location of Corney House these are all are distant memories, yet you think you can hear voices of ferry men working the river.

If you get a chance to visit this part of West London take a walk along the river and if at low tide see the history for yourself. On a cautionary note the tide moves fast and you need good footwear so alway be aware of the state of the river and locate exit points.

It is Christmas Day!

Tags

Christmas, Fishing, Greetings, New Year

To all of you brothers of the angle, shutter and paintbrush, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, may you all find peace and love not only over the Christmas season but for evermore.

For those of you heading to the river or sea tomorrow may your lines be tight and smiles put upon your face.

I bless you all for a prosperous New Year.

The night before Christmas…

Tags

Christmas, Eve, Night, Presents, Year

Between the rain showers and the warm glow of winter sun we dashed around the village doing the lasts bits of shopping before retiring to the pub for a beer and a bite to eat in order to give us energy to wrap those Christmas gifts for young Tales, it may take some time.

The years seems to have passed all too quickly, possibly because we’ve done a lot but more than likely because we are getting older. During the year we went West Wales for young Tales birthday to allow him to fish for sea-trout, went to a wedding in St Ives, visited Mrs Tales birthplace on the island of Cyprus, retuned to Bexhill – a place I spent time at as a young teenager to fish, stalled out at The National Vintage Tackle Fair, worked on some new projects and now it’s Christmas.

As it’s time to spend time with Mrs and young Tales on this Christmas Eve I want to take this opportunity to wish all of you who have taken time to read my blog a very merry Christmas.

On the twelfth night of Advent…

Tags

Carol, Charles Dickens, Christmas, Markey's, Scrooge, Spirits

This evening I saw the ghost of Christmas past and present.

On the seventh day of Advent

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Advent, Ale, Charity, Dunhill, Lucky Severn, Pewter, Tankard

Lucky Seven is reputed to be the most authentic Diner this side of the Brooklyn Bridge based in W2 along the Westbourne Park Road, it was also the title to a TV series, the title of a film and a tobacco brand State side. However my lucky seven was this evening for on my journey home I found a £5 note drifting along a pavement in the breeze.

As I bring to you a range of possible gifts sourced from charity shops, table top sales, car boots and the like I can’t help putting a grin on my face after remembering picking up a pewter tankard from a junk shop off the Askew Road in West London paying a £5 note for it only to find that it was stamped on the bottom with the Dunhill brand logo.

It is now my treasured vessel for consuming ale out of and when used gives me great pleasure. Yet again I prove that there are treasures to be found amongst the tat and cast offs that reach the charity shops and bric-a-brac stalls across the land. I therefore raise a glass to those who go in search of treasures past for future Christmas presents.

On the fifth day of Advent

Tags

Advent, Box Wood, Charity, Chess, Christmas, Games, Thrift, Tin, Traditional, Twinings, Vintage

Earlier in the year I found a tin decorated with an oriental theme with a price tag of £3 on a self in one of our local charity shops. I picked it up to find that it was containing a full box wood chess set. Inverting the tin carefully it beard a logo of the Twinings Tea company with the further detail ‘Fine Quality Blend Of Indian & Ceylon Teas Half Pound Nett Twinings’ along with (Registered Trade Mark).

A long time ago I purchased a black lacquer and gold painted gaming board with a chess or checkers board on one side and within a back gammon board. This small tin an ideal partner to that board. I thought for young Tales a welcome departure from the modern age iPad, there is something satisfying when picking up a box wood chess piece and saying checkmate.

On the forth day of Advent…

Tags

Advent, Camping, Christmas, Filler, Gifts, Knives, Opinel, Peesents, Rolex, Stocking

There are some items in life that become trusted friends, fountain pens, watches, tools, cars, rucksacks, catapults, rods, reels, priest, Barbour, fishing bag, camera and they never let you down and always do what they’re meant to do. Without question these are one of the best knives you can own, simple yet the quality will mean that like a Rolex timepiece they can be passed down to the next generation. One of these Opinel knives will cost you less than £10 unless you want one with a carbon blade. I use mine in the kitchen, when camping, fishing or just out in the garden or in the countryside. If you by one of these as a stocking filler it will be cherished by the user long after the snow has melted and the decorations are down.

On the third day of Advent

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Advent, Brass, Camping, Charity Shops, Cooking, Filler, Outdoor, Secon-Hand, Spirit, Stocking, Stove, Thrift

I found a small brass spirit stove a while back in a charity shop for the price of £2. This would make an ideal stocking filler. These little stoves are small and robust, if looked after will last a lifetime. This most certainly won’t cook your turkey, rib of beef or goose, however I always carry a small spirit stove if I head out to the rivers, wood, hills and dales during the winter months. Capable of heating up a brew or even cooking a breakfast and if lucky enough to catch one a trout wrapped in foil on a tray or at this time of year to pan fry some pigeon or pheasant breasts.

I believe items like this make treasured gift at this time of year and goes to prove that will some stealth in looking around you can find items for less than the cost of a pint of ale.

Second day of Advent

Tags

Advent, Coronation, Letter, OXO, Post Box, Santa Claus

Found in a collection of old OXO tins tucked in a cupboard this 1937 Coronation Souvenir Money Box that once contained 6 OXO Cubes. Printed on the bottom of the tin the address OXO Ltd. Thames House, London, England.

Its post box styling a prompt that young Tales should think about posting his Christmas list to Santa Claus.