New Hobby Unlocked: Finding Sea Pottery on the Beaches in the UK

I grew up landlocked in Indiana. I have lived on the west coast for more than 25 years, and I still can't get over how much I learn about the beaches and water that surrounds us. I started enjoying picking up sea glass, but a new hobby was unlocked on a trip to the UK when I was walking on a beach and found a piece of sea pottery! There was something magical about turning that piece over in my hand and revealing a small hand-painted design. While many people know about sea glass, those frosted shards of discarded bottles softened by time and tide, less people know about its cousin: sea pottery! On a recent trip to the UK, I spent time on the beaches in Scotland and discovered the rich history, and countless seaside towns make it one of the best places in the world to discover these small fragments of the past!
Hunting for sea pottery became a fun little way to slow down and notice those little details and it became one of my favorite parts of my trip to Scotland. If you've never heard of it, let's explore what sea pottery is, how it finds its way to the shore, how to identify different types, and the best places and tips for searching!

New Hobby Unlocked: Finding Sea Pottery on the Beaches in the UK

What is Sea Pottery?

Sea pottery is sometimes called beach pottery or sea china and refers to fragments of ceramic or porcelain that wash up on beaches after decades, maybe even centuries, of tumbling in the sea. Before there were landfills, the sea was an easy dumping ground for "trash". There are many pottery factories in the UK, and any mistakes or broken pieces would be discarded. Likewise, with the widespread use of trash collection, many people would discard their waste into the sea. Unlike beach glass that becomes frosted or translucent, pottery retains its color but takes on a more softened, matte finish.
These fragments often carry remnants of colorful designs: blue and white floral motifs, the curve of a teacup rim, or even part of a maker's mark. Each piece tells a story, offering a glimpse into the everyday lives of the people who once used them. 

How Does Sea Pottery Get to the Beach?

The journey of of sea pottery is the thing that gets me most excited. There are so many different ideas you can dream up, but the reality is, with so much human activity along the coast, and with deep seafaring traditions and centuries of trade, fishing, and industry, it's just that the shores are littered with places where "waste" entered the sea.

Here are some of the main ways pottery ends up in the ocean:

Waste: Before there were landfills, or even trash collection services, households commonly disposed of their broken plates, cups, and teapots by tossing them into the sea or rivers. Basically harbors and coastal communities became natural dumping grounds.
Shipping and Trade: Ships carrying goods often broke or lost cargo, including crates of ceramics. A storm could scatter pottery across the sea floor, where it eventually drifted to shore.
Industrial Sources: Factories and potteries sometimes disposed of defective wares in nearby waterways. If you've even made pottery, you know that the kiln isn't always kind! If you are in an area that is known for its pottery factories, the surrounding beaches will likely be teeming with sea pottery!
An Old Dump Site: Many Scottish harbors were home to something called a midden. A midden was a large pile of trash that sat near the shore. Over time, erosion and tides carried those fragments back out to the sea.
Once submerged, pottery is tumbled by waves, sand and rocks. Over decades, sharp edges smooth, glazes soften, and surfaces develop a patina that collectors recognize as authentic sea worn pottery.

Identifying Sea Pottery

1. Material

• Earthenware: Thicker, heavier, and often white or cream-colored. Common in plates, bowls, and crocks. One type of Earthenware that's common is Spongewear. It's hand decorated with sponges {shockingly!} and was common between 1840-1930. It was very popular in working class and rural homes.

• Stoneware: Dense, hard, often brown, gray, or tan. It may feature salt-glazed or mottled surfaces.

• Porcelain: Thin, delicate, and smooth. Often decorated with fine patterns in blue, green, or pink. Transferware is a popular type of pottery that might be found as well. Common in the 19th century it is generally blue and white with a design "transferred" on.

2. Patterns and Glazes

• Blue Willow & Transferware: Blue-and-white designs are among the most common finds, as this style was mass-produced in the 18th and 19th centuries.

• Hand-painted Florals: Delicate brushstrokes, often in brighter colors, suggest older pieces or more artisanal wares.

• Plain Glaze: A single color, such as green, brown, or cream, might indicate more practical pottery, often handmade and called Spongewear.

3. Shapes and Features

• Rims and Handles: Curved edges can reveal the original form of a bowl or teacup. Handles from mugs are sometimes found intact.

• Base Marks: Some fragments include part of a maker’s stamp or hallmark, which can help trace the piece to a specific pottery company.

• Thickness and Curve: The contour of a shard can hint whether it came from a flat plate, a rounded teapot, or a storage jar.

4. Signs of Authenticity

True sea pottery shows signs of wear from tumbling in sand and salt water:

• Matte finish (not glossy like freshly broken china).

• Rounded edges (no sharp points).

• Subtle fading of glaze or color.

5. Spotting Roman Pottery

Roman pottery occasionally turns up in Scotland, especially near ancient settlements, forts, and along rivers or estuaries. If you’re beachcombing near sites once occupied by the Romans, keep an eye out for these characteristics:

• Samian Ware (Terra Sigillata): A fine red/orange glossy pottery often decorated with relief patterns. Even small fragments may retain the shiny slip.

• Black-Burnished Ware: Dark gray to black pottery with a burnished (polished) surface. These pieces are usually thicker and heavier than later tableware.

• Coarse Wares: Rough-textured, utilitarian pottery in shades of brown, gray, or buff. Often thick-walled and undecorated.

• Distinctive Fabric: Roman pottery often shows small inclusions (bits of grit or sand) in the clay, visible when you look at a broken edge.

• Shapes: Bases and rims from amphorae (large storage jars) are particularly distinctive, with curved or flared profiles.

If you think you’ve found a piece of Roman pottery, it’s worth taking a clear photo and checking with a local museum or archaeology society before adding it to your collection. These pieces can be important for understanding the history of the site where they were discovered.

Once I found my new hobby, I learned of a Facebook group called Pottery Shards UK. I have yet to post in it, but I do find reading about other people's finds is helping me with identification.

Why Scotland is Perfect for Sea Pottery

Scotland’s coastline stretches for thousands of miles, from rocky cliffs to sandy bays. But it’s the country’s long history of coastal living that makes it particularly rich in sea pottery. Many villages relied on fishing, shipping, or trade, leaving behind centuries of ceramic waste that now washes ashore.

Some of the best reasons Scotland is a hotspot:

• Historic Harbors: Fishing villages and shipping towns often have beaches nearby where waste was historically dumped.

• Strong Tides: The North Sea and Atlantic waves constantly stir and reshape the coastline, uncovering new treasures.

• Variety of Coastlines: From pebbly shores to wide sandy stretches, different beaches reveal different types of finds.

Best Places to Look for Sea Pottery in Scotland

While any beach is a good place to start, these area beaches will give you the best bang for your buck! This list is limited to Scotland, because that's where my love of sea pottery started so that's what I've researched so far. 

1. Fife Coastline: The fishing villages along the East Neuk of Fife, like Pittenweem and Anstruther, are known for sea glass and pottery finds. These towns have centuries of history tied to the sea.

2. East Lothian Beaches: Just outside Edinburgh, beaches like Portobello and Dunbar often produce pottery shards thanks to the area’s long industrial and domestic history.

3. Isle of Iona and the Hebrides: Remote islands have fewer modern beachcombers, so your chances of finding untouched treasures can be higher. 

4. Dumfries and Galloway: The Solway Coast, with its shifting tides, can reveal fascinating pottery and glass.

5. Aberdeenshire Coast: Near old fishing towns and harbors, pottery often mixes in with sea glass on the pebble beaches.

6. Scottish Highlands: Look for areas that had a history with glassworks. I had great success in Plockton, as well as on Chanonry Point.

Tips for Sea Pottery Collecting

If you’re planning to add sea pottery hunting to your Scottish beach walks, here are some tips:

• Check the Tide: Low tide is best, as more of the beach is exposed. Look along the high-tide line, where items are often deposited.

• Look Among Pebbles: Pottery shards often hide among small stones rather than lying on open sand.

• Bring a Bag: A small pouch or bag keeps your finds safe (and your pockets free of sand!).

• Be Patient: Some days you’ll find handfuls, other days just one piece. That’s part of the fun.

• Respect Nature: Only collect loose items washed ashore. Don’t dig into dunes, cliffs, or protected areas.

What to Do With Sea Pottery Finds

Honestly, I'm still trying to figure this out myself, but the beauty of sea pottery is that no two pieces are alike. Many collectors simply keep jars or bowls filled with their finds as decorative reminders of time spent by the sea. But sea pottery also lends itself to creative projects:

• Mosaics: Combine different shapes and colors into a mosaic tabletop or garden decoration.

• Jewelry: Small, well-shaped pieces can be wrapped in wire and turned into pendants or earrings.

• Art Displays: Frame a collection of patterned shards for a unique piece of wall art.

• Souvenirs: Carry home a handful from each beach as a tangible memory of your travels.

As of now, I've got mine in a bag that I've labeled and I'm looking for some fun projects!

What makes sea pottery so fun isn't just the beauty of the pieces, or the hunt itself, but the stories each piece holds. Each shard connects you just a little bit more to the history of the UK. You can think about families eating from the blue and white plates, sailors carrying crates across stormy seas, or factories producing goods that would be used and discarded centuries ago. 

Walking a beach in the UK and finding these fragments feels like uncovering a story that hasn't been told in awhile. It's a reminder that history isn't just found in museums, but also hidden at the sand at your feet.

So next time you're in the UK, take a quiet walk along the shore. Keep your eyes open for a little flash of white or maybe a pattern among the pebbles. With a little bit of time and luck, you will be well on your way to finding a new hobby, and a little piece of history, too!

disclaimer: this post may have affiliate links. By clicking on them and purchasing through them, I may receive a small commission. These small purchases help me to continue to keep writing content and creating at Rachel Teodoro. Thank you!