beach by Smeaton’s Pier?”
This is the question my daughter asked me when we first came across some harbour findings. There are several possibilities but no definitive answers –
- The shards of ceramic are part of the discarded remnants from the Leach Pottery via the Stennack River.
- The sea pottery has come from the old mine shaft capped by the Pedn-Olva.
- The Pilchard Fishermen who often travelled to Europe brought back ceramics to St Ives following their travels.
- The tiny ceramic and pottery pieces are the final remains of what used to be put down the Island dumping shaft.
I gave all these potential explanations to my daughter, only to be met with a face full of sheer disappointment. These weren’t the answers she was looking for. Flo wanted a more imaginative response – “Perhaps this piece has come from a pirate’s ship” or “This one could have been a mermaid’s charm.”
Like Flo, the romantic part of me would prefer to just enjoy the mystery surrounding these harbour findings. What is for certain is that every piece of ceramic tells its own story. Each fragment is its own piece of art set against a rugged back drop.
Curiosity beckons, imaginations are ignited and simple pleasure can be found in abundance through the simple task of just looking.