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After being believed to be lost for over four decades, a shell collection from the 18th century that belonged to Captain James Cook’s third voyage has been returned to English Heritage. The collection was rescued from being thrown away and the owner declared it a miracle.
The exhibit, which holds over 200 samples that include a species that is no longer alive and some that are thought to have been brought back from Cook’s unsuccessful voyage, will be showcased for the general public for the first occasion in over a century.
The objects were discarded by a college, but a retired scientist salvaged them from the dumpster.
The compilation, acting as a historical document of Britain’s involvement in international commerce and its colonial expansion during the late 1700s, was a great interest of Bridget Atkinson (1732-1814).
Even though she never traveled outside of Britain and rarely left Cumbria, she managed to collect over 1,200 shells from various places around the world.
Her grandson, John Clayton (1792-1890), inherited the collection before it was sold with the Clayton estate in 1930.
Around 200 objects were still being showcased at Chesters Roman Fort and Museum in Northumberland. They were later borrowed by the zoology department of Armstrong College, which is now known as Newcastle University.
However, the shells were disposed of during a university office clean-up in the 1980s.
There was concern that they were permanently gone, however it has recently been disclosed that they were saved from the trash by a visiting professor named Dr John Buchanan.
They have now been donated to English Heritage by the Buchanan family and returned to the museum, where they have been reunited with a giant clam which was previously the only remaining piece in the collection.
The family of Dr. Buchanan stated that their father worked as a marine zoologist and senior lecturer at the Dove Marine Laboratory in Cullercoats, from 1958 until retirement.
“He saved the collection because he valued the importance of preservation, and the shells stayed in our family’s possession for 35 years.”
“After our mother passed away, we found out that the shells were actually part of the Clayton Collection. It brought us great joy to give back the collection to English Heritage, so that it can be appreciated by generations to come.”
One of the shells is a prickly oyster (Spondylus americanus).
In a letter written in 1804, Mrs. Atkinson requested her son Matthew, who was stationed in Jamaica, to retrieve the shell for her.
This species is typically located on the Atlantic coast, spanning from North Carolina to the Caribbean and extending to Brazil, and is adorned with spines measuring approximately 2 inches (5 centimeters) in length.
A few other options include a sunburst star turban and a circular saw shell, both called Astraea heliotropium. These shells are endemic to New Zealand and were given to Mrs. Atkinson by George Dixon, who served as the armourer on HMS Resolution during Captain Cook’s third voyage.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) now safeguards the giant clam Tridacna gigas, the world’s largest bivalve, as it is considered a protected species.
The exhibit also includes a collection of the Nautilus pompilius, commonly known as the chambered nautilus, and its distinctive shell.
English Heritage states that it is highly prized among collectors of natural history items.
The creature residing in this shell possessed approximately 90 appendages.
The creature resided in the exterior section of the shell and as it matured, it constructed bigger sections, while simultaneously sealing off the ones it had previously occupied.
To discover that the shells have not only survived but been kept safe and loved all this time is nothing short of a miracle
Head of English Heritage, Dr. Frances McIntosh.
According to Dr. Frances McIntosh, the collections curator for Hadrian’s Wall and the North East at English Heritage, the collection by Bridget Atkinson has long been thought to be lost, but we have always been aware of its existence.
“Finding out that the shells not only endured, but also remained well-preserved and cherished all this while, is truly a miraculous occurrence.”
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“Bridget Atkinson possessed a strong fascination for the environment and demonstrated a remarkable character.”
During a period when most women were collecting shells for decorative purposes, Bridget was collecting them for their scientific and geographical value rather than their appearance.
In addition to showcasing Bridget’s integrity and connections, this compilation is an excellent documentation of Britain’s involvement in international commerce during the late 1700s, as well as the effects of humans on the environment.
Tom White, a leading curator at the Natural History Museum, has been assisting English Heritage in identifying and organizing a collection of shells. According to White, the collection contains many uncommon species, such as the Distorsio cancellina which is now extinct.
In the 18th century Britain, during the peak of shell collecting, these items would have been highly coveted and could be sold for thousands of pounds individually.
The exhibit will be available for public viewing for the first time in over 100 years at Chesters Roman Fort and Museum in Northumberland starting on Wednesday, March 13.
Source: independent.co.uk
