Love stories from the river thames this valentines day

“TWENTY bridges from Tower to Kew -
Wanted to know what the River knew, 
Twenty Bridges or twenty-two,
For they were young, and the Thames was old
And this is the tale that River told:” 
― Rudyard Kipling

Victorian heart pendant found in the mud of the River Thames

I have tried to work out what it is that keeps me going back, in all weathers, to prod around in the muddy foreshore of the River Thames.  It is not as if I have ever found anything resembling treasure, or gold, or even remotely Roman (oh, apart from some Roman pottery, so yes, I did find something Roman - but not a Roman coin!).  What I have found though are long lost possessions, faded and rusty, worn by the River, whose owners are probably long long gone. They are pieces of evidence of past lives. A tangible piece of history. It is that, that keeps me going back, and they make getting covered in mud and acquiring a stiff neck all very much worthwhile. These little pieces of history fascinate me and evoke stories in my imagination of Victorian ladies, children playing with lead toys and marbles, sailors and lightermen smoking clay pipes.....I can spend hours just imagining who last touched that object, who owned that button and who wore that glass bead that was once part of a necklace.  Over the past few years I have found several tokens of love in the River Thames, and it is these I want to concentrate on now, as of course, it is Valentines Day, and so it seems appropriate.  Below are just a few of the symbols of love I've found - and I think you'll agree, they all have their very own story - which we will never know in all probability.  

Of course, you can't help wondering who wore these pieces of jewellery and how they ended up in the River? What is their love story? The bracelet below, engraved Peter and Lesley is a mystery too. Did Lesley drop it by accident, or was it hurled in the River after a break up by Peter? Where are they now?

Gold bracelet engraved "Peter and Lesley"

There are countless fragments of the Willow Plate design on the Thames foreshore - depicting the two lovers, who were turned into doves for daring to pursue their forbidden love! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willow_pattern

There are countless pieces of pottery in the River Thames depicting lovers and love stories, both happy and sad.

Here are some once loved toys clutching hearts, that somehow now find themselves lost and forlorn by the River!

And lastly, of course, there are many messages of love that have floated down the River Thames. I have written about some of them in my message in a bottle blog here on this site, but here a few.

words of love for Tandyman from his friends

words of love found in a message in a bottle - River Thames

Ryan and Shellon forever - declaration of love found in a bottle in the River Thames

So now I think I know one of the reasons why I keep coming back to the River to search the shores. It is so full of stories to think on.  In what seems like a difficult world at the moment, with all manner of sad happenings going on - the River Thames that flows through the heart of our City here in London, has many love stories to tell. Sad stories or happy stories, the fact is, love is eternal. 


I wish you much love in your lives.
Happy Valentines Day
X

little plastic heart found whilst urban beachcombing (streetcombing)