The very next day we spent a total of four hours on
Seaham Hall Beach.
It was a decent enough day, not too cold and not drizzling until mid afternoon. We were well wrapped up.
We made our way to the steps....
......all 80 of them, but we were very excited.
The tide was out which was perfect for us.
The waves were calmer than the day before but the rough tide had ensured rich pickings for us.
As we glanced along the beach we could see other seaglass searchers armed with bags and pots.
I have to say that I was particularly glad that I had increased my squats, both in quantity and deepness because it helped me no end.
The locals call us ZOMBIES because our heads are down and nothing distracts us from our task.
But we spoke to lots of people.....dog walkers, fellow searchers, ramblers, jewellers.....all very nice people.
I even had one couple finding glass for me.
One lady told us that the previous week, the whole beach had been only sand, so we were lucky to find the shingle!!
We wondered how we would have felt to arrive and find only sand.
When I was researching Seaham, the one thing I wanted to know more than anything, was just how much seaglass was on the beach.
Well here is the answer...
.....A LOT
How can I convey to you the reader, exactly how much....
.....a picture?....just as it was found.
The fact that you didn`t have to move very far to find a great deal.
One lady told us that the previous week, the whole beach had been only sand, so we were lucky to find the shingle!!
We wondered how we would have felt to arrive and find only sand.
When I was researching Seaham, the one thing I wanted to know more than anything, was just how much seaglass was on the beach.
Well here is the answer...
.....A LOT
How can I convey to you the reader, exactly how much....
.....a picture?....just as it was found.
Paula did film me picking it up and I hope to add that clip here soon.
She did tell me that all she could hear from my direction was
PING PING PING as the pieces flew into my collection pot.
I was amazed at the number of people who didn`t know what we were all doing and once or twice I found myself telling a rather potted history of the area....rather amusing since it was my first time on the beach.
In Victorian times there were glassworks in the area. At the end of each day they tipped the waste glass into the sea. The rough seas have rounded and frosted the waste glass into the most beautiful seaglass, a lot of which is multi-coloured.
Here is a link to a lovely piece, well worth a read.
Part of my first day`s haul.
Back at the hotel, much later, we sorted through our finds.
Paula arranged hers so beautifully.
I sorted my special ones and here they are unwashed
and not colour sorted.
We were well pleased with our treasure trove and decided there and then to spend two hours there the following day.
How could we not?
The next day I had to be dragged kicking and screaming from Seaham Beach in order to drive home!!
A very interesting coincidence..........as we were searching on that first day, a lady came up to us and said she thought we looked as if we knew what we were doing and could we help her identify the fossil-like stones in her hand.
We said we had come from Hastings and it was our first time.
She told us she was born in Hastings and she knew Pett Level because her grandad lived nearby.
His name was Don Lander, Anne`s dad.
So this lady turns out to be Tim and Anne`s niece, Senita.
(I hope I`ve spelt it correctly)
We could hardly believe it.
Amazing.
A few tips.
When we got home a week later, I was able to sort through my seaglass properly. I washed it in a sieve and sorted by colour.
I spent a pleasurable late afternoon taking photos, zooming in with Belinda`s advice.
Then I found out I could take great photos with my phone magnifier. They are really worth a close look.
Here are just some of them.
The special colours.
The extra specials.
The wonderful pebbles.
Steve`s extra specials.
The myriad greens after oiling.
The oranges after oiling.
The whites which weren`t white after all.
Some closer views.
We said we had come from Hastings and it was our first time.
She told us she was born in Hastings and she knew Pett Level because her grandad lived nearby.
His name was Don Lander, Anne`s dad.
So this lady turns out to be Tim and Anne`s niece, Senita.
(I hope I`ve spelt it correctly)
We could hardly believe it.
Amazing.
A few tips.
- check the tides
- check the weather...it is an exposed shoreline
- wrap up well
- stand up and talk to people....you will learn a great deal
- be friendly to dogs....Paula swears they helped her find special glass
- also beware of disobedient dogs....yes one actually peed in my collection bag
- there is plenty of glass for everyone so don`t panic
- take a trowel and bags/pots for your treasures
When we got home a week later, I was able to sort through my seaglass properly. I washed it in a sieve and sorted by colour.
I spent a pleasurable late afternoon taking photos, zooming in with Belinda`s advice.
Then I found out I could take great photos with my phone magnifier. They are really worth a close look.
Here are just some of them.
We had a wonderful time.
I thought it would spoil me for searching on our own beach but we`ve spent a lovely day on the beach at Pett Level today and we`
Am I an addict?
Yes.
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