Today
As anyone who follows me on Twitter will know, I like mudlarking. I'm not a metal-detector-anorak-type mudlark, but still. Living by the Thames is a constant reminder of the fact London is built upon thousands of years of river commerce. The Thames foreshore (particularly in the City where I am) throws things up all the time, both natural and man made, from centuries of habitation. Every day I walk my small nuisance of a dog down on the beach of either Bankside or the North Bank and kick about in the debris. Amongst the broken clay pipes, 20C pottery, 18C nails and things best not picked up, there are sometimes nice little bits and pieces from another age.
Today's find is a hagstone which, as everybody knows is both good luck and protects a property from witches. I like this one a lot, because it is pale and freckly (not unlike me) and most stones on the foreshore are black or grey. Hagstones made an excellent key-ring in the 17C, empowering your lock against the evil crone intent on cursing your household. They could also be placed on a window-sill or a doorstep to prevent the witch sneaking inside. Legend has it that looking through the hole of a hagstone reveals deceit and sometimes, pixies.
