Celebrating the history of seaweed gathering on Scilly

Selling Scilly’s seaweed: From kelping to glassmaking, art and skincare

Saturday 18 April | 1pm–5pm

Old Town Inn, St Mary’s

Join us for an afternoon of talks, art and workshops celebrating the history of seaweed gathering on the Isles of Scilly.

Artist Abigail Reynolds, whose work is currently at the heart of an exhibition at Newlyn Gallery, shares an update on her work creating glass for the new Museum and Cultural Centre from sand and seaweed.

Seaweed was once gathered and burnt here in vast quantities. The ash was rich in soda and sold to the glass industry as a flux, lowering the melting point of sand enough for it to become glass. Intrigued by the idea that a beach might, in effect, become glass, Reynolds spent the summer of 2019 attempting to make it happen - experimenting with sand and seaweed, and documenting the process.

At this special afternoon event, Reynolds will reveal more about that journey. Visitors will be able to watch her short film Flux, hear about the research and experimentation behind the work, and see physical samples of seaweed ash and glass.

Island historian, and Museum trustee, Jess Vian - explores the impact of the 19th-century kelping industry on the islands. Kelp gathering and burning to produce pot ash for glass, soap and alum was once a key industry across the islands.

It was introduced to the islands in 1684 by the Nance family and James Nance built a house on Teän where he manufactured kelp until he died. The industry died out in the 1830s but kelp pits still remain across the islands.

Today, Scilly seaweed is used in beauty products and Ella McLachlan (Phoenix & Providence) will be at the event to share some of the secrets of her seaweed-based skincare, made locally on St. Martin.

Seaweed is also used to create work by local artists and Grace Pehlivanova (Island Press) – will lead a seaweed pressing workshop, allowing participants to create their own seaweed art. We have only five spaces per session, so do book quickly to secure your place.

Family Friendly: Yes

Dogs Welcome: Yes

Cost: Free, donations to Isles of Scilly Museum very welcome.

Booking: Advance booking required only for seaweed pressing workshops. For the other sessions in the afternoon, you do not need to book but you need to ensure you arrive at 1pm.

Location: Old Town Inn, St Mary’s