Germander Speedwell
@germanderspeedwell.bsky.social
Gatherer of lost knowledge
Explorer of Thames foreshores
Assembler of obscure collections
And observer of flora and fauna.
London, England
www.germanderspeedwell.org.uk
Explorer of Thames foreshores
Assembler of obscure collections
And observer of flora and fauna.
London, England
www.germanderspeedwell.org.uk
These are my delftware / tin-glazed earthenware finds from the last few months; this type of pottery dates from the 1500s-1700s. It's quite common on the Thames foreshore, but these days I only keep the ones with the more complex designs or rich colours, or from specific sites of interest.
November 7, 2025 at 8:23 AM
These are my delftware / tin-glazed earthenware finds from the last few months; this type of pottery dates from the 1500s-1700s. It's quite common on the Thames foreshore, but these days I only keep the ones with the more complex designs or rich colours, or from specific sites of interest.
1/3: Aha - part of a white stoneware pot showing through the mud of the Thames foreshore... Because its lip was intact (the most vulnerable part) I was quite sure that this was going to be complete, whatever it was...
November 5, 2025 at 8:04 AM
1/3: Aha - part of a white stoneware pot showing through the mud of the Thames foreshore... Because its lip was intact (the most vulnerable part) I was quite sure that this was going to be complete, whatever it was...
1/4: When I found this piece on the Thames foreshore, I thought it would just end up in my drawer of unidentified fragments - with such a general name as the 'London Tavern' I'd never be able to pin it down; it was barely even worth looking it up....
November 4, 2025 at 8:14 AM
1/4: When I found this piece on the Thames foreshore, I thought it would just end up in my drawer of unidentified fragments - with such a general name as the 'London Tavern' I'd never be able to pin it down; it was barely even worth looking it up....
It was 'giant insect day' when I visited this particular foreshore. Both of these creatures were upside-down and unable to right themselves, so I helped them up and gave them a log to steady themselves. I have now rehoused them in a less tidal habitat -around one of the street trees in my road.
November 3, 2025 at 7:47 AM
It was 'giant insect day' when I visited this particular foreshore. Both of these creatures were upside-down and unable to right themselves, so I helped them up and gave them a log to steady themselves. I have now rehoused them in a less tidal habitat -around one of the street trees in my road.
1/2: In a different place, these fragments of a 'Grecian urn' emerging from the ground might have been an exciting sight...
November 1, 2025 at 9:01 AM
1/2: In a different place, these fragments of a 'Grecian urn' emerging from the ground might have been an exciting sight...
1/3: What a surprise find! I spotted the shape of a clay pipe bowl briefly exposed between the waves; it was immediately covered by another wave, so I had a nervous wait hoping it would be exposed again. And when it was, I grabbed it quickly. At first I thought that rounded shape was a crescent...
October 29, 2025 at 8:08 AM
1/3: What a surprise find! I spotted the shape of a clay pipe bowl briefly exposed between the waves; it was immediately covered by another wave, so I had a nervous wait hoping it would be exposed again. And when it was, I grabbed it quickly. At first I thought that rounded shape was a crescent...
1/4: I recently found on the foreshore this nice large piece of what I recognised as Sunderland lustreware. You can see part of a ship in the top right, a figure in the middle right, and at the bottom, the letters 'TH'. I then remembered something similar found by a fellow mudlark...
October 27, 2025 at 8:02 AM
1/4: I recently found on the foreshore this nice large piece of what I recognised as Sunderland lustreware. You can see part of a ship in the top right, a figure in the middle right, and at the bottom, the letters 'TH'. I then remembered something similar found by a fellow mudlark...
Reposted by Germander Speedwell
My cartoon for this week’s @newscientist.com
October 26, 2025 at 3:22 PM
My cartoon for this week’s @newscientist.com
1/2: I recently found this unusual armorial clay pipe bowl, with a charming restful lion. It's different to earlier armorials, and in the second photo at the beginning of the stem you can see the letter T - I wonder if this wording described some national event or occasion? Contd...
October 26, 2025 at 8:08 AM
1/2: I recently found this unusual armorial clay pipe bowl, with a charming restful lion. It's different to earlier armorials, and in the second photo at the beginning of the stem you can see the letter T - I wonder if this wording described some national event or occasion? Contd...
I found this beautiful tin-glazed tile fragment some time ago; it was of sufficient age and interest to be recorded at the Museum of London. I've got it back now; their conclusion was that it was made at Pickleherring or Rotherhithe in London c. 1590-1650; it's been matched up with a known design.
October 23, 2025 at 7:05 AM
I found this beautiful tin-glazed tile fragment some time ago; it was of sufficient age and interest to be recorded at the Museum of London. I've got it back now; their conclusion was that it was made at Pickleherring or Rotherhithe in London c. 1590-1650; it's been matched up with a known design.
Well how about this, for a symbol of hope... it was on a day when I was feeling very low, and while doing the dishes, I spotted that a seedling had sprouted from this steel wool scourer! Life sprouting from this harshest of environments... it certainly distracted me from my negative thoughts!
October 21, 2025 at 6:33 AM
Well how about this, for a symbol of hope... it was on a day when I was feeling very low, and while doing the dishes, I spotted that a seedling had sprouted from this steel wool scourer! Life sprouting from this harshest of environments... it certainly distracted me from my negative thoughts!
1/2: Here's a couple more clay pipes found recently on the Thames foreshore: this one, found lying among the rocks, has a decorated leafy base...
October 19, 2025 at 7:46 AM
1/2: Here's a couple more clay pipes found recently on the Thames foreshore: this one, found lying among the rocks, has a decorated leafy base...
1/2: When I found this china fragment, I guessed it might be from a Bear's Grease pot lid. But what is going on? There's a dog's head, and another creature in the tree above. It took a lot of searching as there are so many different Bear's Grease pot lid designs, but I eventually found a match...
October 18, 2025 at 7:43 AM
1/2: When I found this china fragment, I guessed it might be from a Bear's Grease pot lid. But what is going on? There's a dog's head, and another creature in the tree above. It took a lot of searching as there are so many different Bear's Grease pot lid designs, but I eventually found a match...
This clay pipe bowl once depicted a cyclist, but it's been rolling around in the shingle so long that the design is barely identifiable; I found it among the debris at the top of the foreshore. It probably dates from the 1880s when the safety bicycle came onto the market and became hugely popular!
October 13, 2025 at 7:06 AM
This clay pipe bowl once depicted a cyclist, but it's been rolling around in the shingle so long that the design is barely identifiable; I found it among the debris at the top of the foreshore. It probably dates from the 1880s when the safety bicycle came onto the market and became hugely popular!
1/2: Here's a few of my recent 'novelty' and 'curiosity' finds on the foreshore:
Firstly, Postman Pat. I took him home, and for a few weeks left him lodged in the letterbox of my front door, for the possible amusement of postal delivery persons...
Firstly, Postman Pat. I took him home, and for a few weeks left him lodged in the letterbox of my front door, for the possible amusement of postal delivery persons...
October 12, 2025 at 7:24 AM
1/2: Here's a few of my recent 'novelty' and 'curiosity' finds on the foreshore:
Firstly, Postman Pat. I took him home, and for a few weeks left him lodged in the letterbox of my front door, for the possible amusement of postal delivery persons...
Firstly, Postman Pat. I took him home, and for a few weeks left him lodged in the letterbox of my front door, for the possible amusement of postal delivery persons...
A perfectly broken bouquet from a stoneware vessel; this was lying in my path face-up on the shingle, as if being presented to me (in the subtle way that the foreshore does these things!)
October 11, 2025 at 6:58 AM
A perfectly broken bouquet from a stoneware vessel; this was lying in my path face-up on the shingle, as if being presented to me (in the subtle way that the foreshore does these things!)
Well, how about this - a familiar shape, but an unfamiliar colour! It's a small fluted clay pipe bowl, but in a terracotta coloured clay - or dyed orange? My guess is that this was a child's bubble pipe, as I've seen similar examples of coloured pipes produced to be sold as bubble pipes.
October 8, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Well, how about this - a familiar shape, but an unfamiliar colour! It's a small fluted clay pipe bowl, but in a terracotta coloured clay - or dyed orange? My guess is that this was a child's bubble pipe, as I've seen similar examples of coloured pipes produced to be sold as bubble pipes.
A near-complete clay pipe with a dotty-design bowl, found lying on the surface, as in the second photo. The shape/style of this pipe dates it to the 1850-1910 period.
October 5, 2025 at 6:54 AM
A near-complete clay pipe with a dotty-design bowl, found lying on the surface, as in the second photo. The shape/style of this pipe dates it to the 1850-1910 period.
1/2: This stoneware ink bottle is so glossy and perfect, it's like new! But follow the thread to see how I found it...
October 4, 2025 at 7:07 AM
1/2: This stoneware ink bottle is so glossy and perfect, it's like new! But follow the thread to see how I found it...
My eye was caught by this colourful fragment on the foreshore - even more pleasing when I saw it had part of a face! It's from an item of royal commemorative china; I haven't been able to find an exact match, but it looks most likely to be George V.
September 26, 2025 at 2:50 PM
My eye was caught by this colourful fragment on the foreshore - even more pleasing when I saw it had part of a face! It's from an item of royal commemorative china; I haven't been able to find an exact match, but it looks most likely to be George V.
1/2: I've just been putting together another display case for the mudlarking exhibition this weekend; this case shows some of the complete pipes I've found on the Thames foreshore - from the long pipes of the 1700s to the variety of short everyday pipes of the 1800s to early 1900s.
September 24, 2025 at 7:11 AM
1/2: I've just been putting together another display case for the mudlarking exhibition this weekend; this case shows some of the complete pipes I've found on the Thames foreshore - from the long pipes of the 1700s to the variety of short everyday pipes of the 1800s to early 1900s.
Found on the foreshore a few nights ago, when I was looking for a sign after receiving some very sad news...
Not sure if she's a fairy or an angel, but she's appropriately otherworldly and was sitting at attention right in my path, as if waiting to greet me...
Not sure if she's a fairy or an angel, but she's appropriately otherworldly and was sitting at attention right in my path, as if waiting to greet me...
September 22, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Found on the foreshore a few nights ago, when I was looking for a sign after receiving some very sad news...
Not sure if she's a fairy or an angel, but she's appropriately otherworldly and was sitting at attention right in my path, as if waiting to greet me...
Not sure if she's a fairy or an angel, but she's appropriately otherworldly and was sitting at attention right in my path, as if waiting to greet me...
1/2: Found lying face-up on the Thames foreshore... the bird in this nest looks rather like a young cuckoo to me, outgrowing its host's nursery. Or perhaps it's just a parent bird on its nest?
September 17, 2025 at 7:31 AM
1/2: Found lying face-up on the Thames foreshore... the bird in this nest looks rather like a young cuckoo to me, outgrowing its host's nursery. Or perhaps it's just a parent bird on its nest?
1/4: I chanced on this exquisite figural clay pipe bowl in the most unlikely place – I was returning to the river stairs at the end of a search, when I spotted it right in my path, on the tideline, in a barren gravelly patch! Follow the thread for more reasons why this was an extraordinary find..
September 12, 2025 at 7:31 AM
1/4: I chanced on this exquisite figural clay pipe bowl in the most unlikely place – I was returning to the river stairs at the end of a search, when I spotted it right in my path, on the tideline, in a barren gravelly patch! Follow the thread for more reasons why this was an extraordinary find..
A couple of new 'pork pie' stoneware inkwells, both with the imperfections of hasty human handling. The other photos show how I found them - one partly exposed in the mud and sand, the other illuminated during an evening search. These inkwells are so sturdy that they frequently survive intact!
September 10, 2025 at 7:16 AM
A couple of new 'pork pie' stoneware inkwells, both with the imperfections of hasty human handling. The other photos show how I found them - one partly exposed in the mud and sand, the other illuminated during an evening search. These inkwells are so sturdy that they frequently survive intact!