Cockle Collection

Cockle Sheds, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex
Cockle Sheds, Leigh-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England. Date: 1900s

Three cockle women of Pembrokeshire, South Wales
Three cockle women of South Wales, in a posed photograph. They are probably from the coastal village of Llangwm, near Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Dyfed, South Wales

A cockle woman of Pembrokeshire, South Wales
An elderly cockle woman of South Wales, in a posed photograph with a painted backdrop behind her. She is probably from the coastal village of Llangwm, near Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Dyfed

Gathering cockles, Benbecula, Scotland
Women gathering cockles on the island of Benbecula, Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Date: late 19th century

Cockle Picker, Ulverston
A cockle picker outside her cottage near Ulverston, then part of Lancashire. An old woman holds a large basket. On a wooden bench is another basket full of cockle shells

Cockle gathering at Penclawdd 1857
Eight miles from Swansea on the Loughor river, women gathering and preparing cockles for market. Date: 1857

Parable of Good Seed
The Parable of the Good Seed, and the Cockle that is sown by his enemy while the good men are sleeping

Engraving depicting cockles, a small, edible, marine bivalve mollusc, 19th century
5309015 Engraving depicting cockles, a small, edible, marine bivalve mollusc, 19th century; (add.info.: Engraving depicting cockles, a small, edible, marine bivalve mollusc)

Grain variety, Ustilago, darnel, Lolium temulentum, and wall barley, Hordeum murinum
FLO4668866 Grain variety, Ustilago, darnel, Lolium temulentum, and wall barley, Hordeum murinum. Handcoloured woodblock engraving of a botanical illustration from Adam Lonicer's Krauterbuch

Bearded darnel, Lolium temulentum. Handcoloured lithograph by Hanhart after a botanical illustration by David Blair
FLO4986691 Bearded darnel, Lolium temulentum. Handcoloured lithograph by Hanhart after a botanical illustration by David Blair from Robert Bentley and Henry Trimen's Medicinal Plants, London

Leigh on Sea Cockling Shed Victorian period

Corncockle (Agrostemma githago) and Corn marigolds (Chrysanthemum segetum) flowering in sown wildflower meadow, Surrey, UK. March

She was in the act of rushing, open-jawed, at our little cockle-shell (colour litho)
2813041 She was in the act of rushing, open-jawed, at our little cockle-shell (colour litho) by Noble, John Edwin (1876-1941); Private Collection; (add.info.: She was in the act of rushing)

British sea shells (chromolitho)
7201103 British sea shells (chromolitho) by Lydon, Alexander Francis (1836-1917) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: British sea shells)

Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Bucarde; Cockle; Herzmuskel (engraving)
7195074 Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Bucarde; Cockle; Herzmuskel (engraving) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Bucarde; Cockle; Herzmuskel)

Seashells on the beach, Florida

Mistress Mary, quite contrary, How does your garden grow? (chromolitho)
2811770 Mistress Mary, quite contrary, How does your garden grow? (chromolitho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Mistress Mary, quite contrary)

The little cockle dipped into the swell and staggered under every gust of wind
2920200 The little cockle dipped into the swell and staggered under every gust of wind, 1916 (litho) by Wyeth, Newell Convers (1882-1945); Private Collection; (add.info)

Spiny cockle, Acanthocardia aculeata (Cardium spinosum). Handcoloured copperplate engraving by James Sowerby from The British Miscellany, or Coloured figures of new, rare

Corn cockle, Agrostemma githago. Handcoloured copperplate engraving after a drawing by James Sowerby for James Smiths English Botany, 1800

Thorny cockle, truncated purr and eight-ridged tooth shell
Thorny cockle, Cardium echinatum, truncated purr, Donax crenulata, and eight-ridged tooth shell, Dentalium octangulatum. Handcoloured copperplate engraving after Sydenham Edwards from John Mason

Heart cockle, Glossus humanus (Heart chama shell, Chama cor). Illustration drawn and engraved by Richard Polydore Nodder. Handcoloured copperplate engraving from George Shaw

Grain variety, Ustilago, darnel, Lolium temulentum, and wall barley, Hordeum murinum. Handcoloured woodblock engraving of a botanical illustration from Adam Lonicers Krauterbuch, or Herbal

Bivalvia clam shells: Venus clam, Hysteroconcha dione 1-3, spiny cockle, Acanthocardia aculeata 4, 5, heart cockle, Corculum cardissa 6-9, fluted giant clam

Rose campion, Silene coronaria (Rock cockle or campion, Agrostemma coronaria). Handcolured copperplate engraving and botanical illustration by James Sowerby from William Curtis The Botanical

Bearded darnel, Lolium temulentum. Handcoloured lithograph by Hanhart after a botanical illustration by David Blair from Robert Bentley and Henry Trimens Medicinal Plants, London, 1880

Mary, Mary, quite contrary (colour litho)
3631219 Mary, Mary, quite contrary (colour litho) by Greenaway, Kate (1846-1901) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Mary, Mary, quite contrary)

Curtis British Entomology Plate 61
Hymenoptera: Anthidium manicatum (Muff-bodied Bee) [Plant: Agrostemma githago (Corn Cockle)] Date: 1824-39

Isis Coral, 1833-39 (coloured engraving)
999306 Isis Coral, 1833-39 (coloured engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A Dictionnaire pittoresque d histoire naturelle et des phenomAnes de la natureA)

Gathering Cockles and Winkles on the Essex Coast (engraving)
1603151 Gathering Cockles and Winkles on the Essex Coast (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Gathering Cockles and Winkles on the Essex Coast)

Mistress Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow (engraving)
3655973 Mistress Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow (engraving) by Brooke, Leonard Leslie (1862-1940); Private Collection; (add.info.: Mistress Mary, quite contrary)

Flowers from Shakespeares Garden (colour litho)
3097959 Flowers from Shakespeares Garden (colour litho) by Crane, Walter (1845-1915); Private Collection; (add.info.: Illustration for Flowers from Shakespeares Garden (Cassell)

Mistress Mary quite contrary, ... (colour litho)
2792372 Mistress Mary quite contrary, ... (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Mistress Mary quite contrary)

Alaska, Ketchikan, cockle shells on beach

Alaska, Ketchikan, cockle shell on beach

PILGRIMS AT LIESSE
Pilgrims at the shrine of Notre-Dame de Liesse pray before the miraculous statue of the Virgin; note the man on the left in true pilgrims garb, cockle shells and all Date: 19th century

Seashells, Honeymoon Island State Park, Dunedin, Florida, USA

Cockle shell in the water, Honeymoon Island State Park, Dunedin, Florida, USA

Seashells, Honeymoon Island State Park, Dunedin, Florida, USA

Common Starfish (Asterias rubens) and Common Cockle (Cerastoderma edule) on the beach, The Netherlands, Noord-Holland

Darling Harbour is very famous harbour in Sydney Australia

Common Cockle Shells - on beach in Coto Donana National Park, Andalucia, South Spain
USH-3930 Common Cockle Shells - on beach in Coto Donana National Park Andalucia, South Spain Cerastoderma edula Duncan Usher Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only

Contrary Mary / Greenaway
Mary, Mary, quite contrary, How does your garden grow? With silver bells, and cockle shells, And cowslips all of a row

Beautiful panoramic view of buildings and skyline. Sydney, Australia
Darling Harbour is a large recreational and pedestrian precinct in the Sydney Central Business District

Short S1 Cockle G-EBKA
Short S1 Cockle, G-EBKA

Llangwm cockle woman, Haverfordwest, South Wales
An elderly cockle woman from the coastal village of Llangwm rests outside St Marys Church in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Dyfed, South Wales. She is on her way to the Portfield area of the town

Common Cockle Shells - on beach in Coto Donana National Park, Andalucia, South Spain
USH-3929 Common Cockle Shells - on beach in Coto Donana National Park Andalucia, South Spain Cerastoderma edula Duncan Usher Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only

Woman selling cockles in Scotland, c. 1830
Woman selling cockles in Scotland to two boys, c.1830 Date: C.1830

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Cockle, a word that evokes images of coastal towns and traditional practices. From the Cockle Sheds in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex to the Three cockle women of Pembrokeshire, South Wales, this humble shellfish has left its mark on various communities across the UK. In Benbecula, Scotland, locals can be seen gathering cockles along the shores, their hands working swiftly to collect these treasures from the sea. Similarly, in Ulverston, a dedicated Cockle Picker meticulously selects each one with care. The significance of cockles is not limited to their harvesting; they hold cultural importance too. A cockle woman from Pembrokeshire stands proudly as a symbol of tradition and resilience. Meanwhile, historical records show us glimpses into past gatherings at Penclawdd in 1857 when people came together for this timeless activity. Even literature finds inspiration in these small shells. The Parable of Good Seed reminds us that just like seeds sown on fertile ground grow abundantly; so do our efforts when we put our hearts into them - much like those who tend to Leigh-on-Sea's Cockling Shed during Victorian times. Nature also embraces the beauty of cockles through vibrant wildflower meadows where Corncockles and Corn marigolds bloom harmoniously alongside other flora in Surrey's countryside. Artistic depictions capture both the ferocity and fragility associated with these creatures. One illustration portrays a creature rushing towards an open-jawed encounter with our little cockleshell boat while another showcases British sea shells in all their chromolitho glory. Lastly, Le Vocabulaire Illustre engraving showcases how different languages recognize this fascinating mollusk: Bucarde; Cockle; Herzmuskel - three words representing its essence across cultures.