I am lucky to live very near to the Northumberland coast and love to walk there with my family and our dog, Daisy. Wherever we go on holiday we try not to be too far from a beach. Many of my pebbles, driftwood and shells are from various holidays including as far away as my brother’s local beach in New Plymouth, New Zealand to an Easter stay in Morfa Nefyn, Wales, and a recent holiday in Sarasota, Florida. After researching online I realised Seaham had a history for sea glass and was only 18 miles away. I went late morning one day in the spring and, thanks to my daughter’s persistence; we found some lovely pieces of sea glass. Living so near to a find I promised myself I would return as soon as possible, with Daisy. I was amazed at how the pieces I have found may be up to 100 years old! John Candlish began a bottle works in Seaham and his factory dumped waste glass into the sea daily. In turn the glass has been tumbled and shaped by the waves to create their look.The factory closed in 1921.
Seaglass is also known as mermaids’ tears. This extract is from The Legend of Seaglass by Trinka Hakes Noble:
http://www.east-durham.co.uk/londonderrys/londonderry_bottleworks%20ARTICLE%202.htm
More recently I discovered near Seaton Sluice, Northumberland, there also once stood a bottle works. I visited Collywell Bay and found seaglass there. Hartley Bottleworks was one of the largest of its kind in England and closed in 1897.
This photo is of Hartley Bottleworks is from http://www.seaton-sluice.btck.co.uk/BottleWorks
I now incorporate seaglass into silver clay, sterling silver and resin into my jewellery making. Here are some of my makes.