Have we found a witches bottle?! Mudlarking after storm Dennis and our best bottle finds yet!

Come with us as we go mudlarking after two big storms (Ciara and Dennis) recently battered our shores. With some ancient finds and a possible witch’s bottle, we also return to the bottle dump to discover some of our best bottles yet! Welcome back to Berwick Upon Tweed, Northumberland, England!
If you are thinking of visiting Berwick-Upon-Tweed for yourself or want to learn more about the town and our home county of Northumberland, here are some great websites to check out here ---
www.visitnorthumberland.com/berwick-upon-tweed
NORTHERN MUDLARKS SHOP: www.etsy.com/shop/NorthernMudlarks/
Alex's Shop: etsy.com/shop/ferarosajewellery/
Gail's Shop: www.etsy.com/uk/shop/StudioFahrenheit925
Thank you all so much for your wonderful comments, likes and subscriptions, we recently hit 25k subscribers! We are so pleased to have you along with us. If you haven't already, please consider subscribing and remember to click the bell icon to receive a notification when we post a new adventure :)
We have a Patreon page! You can support us and help make it possible to continue on our adventures and create new videos every week :) ---
www.patreon.com/user?u=26183565
If you think you have discovered a potentially important historical artefact within the British isles please visit this helpful page to find information on how to report your find(s). finds.org.uk/contacts
Our camera _ Canon M50 with 15-45mm lens
Mic_ RODE VideoMic GO and Deadcat muff
Wishing you peace, love, happiness and good health,
Gail & Alex x

[@mortensolbergjr2876]

I must confess something ...when you start your videos with a wave and a " Hello", I wave back and say " Hello".

[@peggyreid6836]

I instinctively do that also. I often wonder why?

[@hpharridan]

me, too

[@marasue5452]

Natural reaction you waved to me and I way back

[@AtomicBlonde1]

Me too

[@heidigrunberg421]

I love how humans still have that scavenging instinct! I love your enthusiasm and lovely personalities! I'm hooked!

[@stevebradford8549]

your cinematography is lovely, you get the full scale of your surrounds!.

[@marciehall2125]

The whole in the oyster shell could be from making a button! A new crafting challenge for you two lovely ladies! Love your videos! Always a delight!!! 💜🤗💜

[@NorthernMudlarks]

Don't forget to subscribe to be kept up to date with all our latest releases and news! Gail & Alex xx

[@cathyblock6197]

Your excitement just makes me smile. I love to hear your “first guesses” & then see the corrections pop up on the screen. You & your mom make a great team! So happy to have found your channel!

[@roxiepoe9586]

When the inside of a pot is heavily burned it is often an indication that I have been attempting to cook. :)

[@RMBlake007]

Roxie Poe - Hilarious!!! (Excepting the hungry ppl waiting for dinner?)

[@sarapulford5957]

Rosie Poe 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@dennishudson9723]

If you started collecting all of the bricks with words on them you could use them as pavers to make a really neat path or small patio in the garden or something. Would get a bit heavy to keep collecting them though.

[@simhifree2416]

Dennis I've been thinking the same!

[@Magdalena76h]

I don;t; live anywhere near these ladies, but I am already collecting some myself!! (I saw a collection in a museum where there were lots of clay quarries or marle pits and I thought it then and I still think it now!!) I have such a tiny collection so far, but I keep looking! One day I shall landscape our back garden and make something special with them all! (although they are heavy to carry back to the car when I find them!)

[@kitchenworker446]

My brother has built a pizza oven from all different bricks that he has picked up on his travels!

[@terry-1]

Not a bad idea, since they drive, maby a very few managable each time depending on where you parked and what you find. You ladies have found such memorable local history bricks, seems such a shame not to harvest them and dry stack something like an outside planter base or? many possibilities if you want to do that. Also, Here in my area, and in others, Lead has a re-cycle value same with metals. I have also seen mudlarking and shore larking treasures sold on ebay, not sure about etsy but you have your own jewelry website, Could experiment and see how it goes. Just a thought.

[@ramibu239]

That was exactly what I was thinking!!! If I found whole bricks w/ words in them I would take them home & find use for them in my garden somehow. Either as pavers or edging flower beds. The weight of them would be worth lugging them all back home!!!😅 Also, the broken pottery - especially the blue & white flat pieces - I would use to make mosaics with. Like patio tables, birdbaths, stepping stones, etc.

[@urgumskurgum7570]

The witches bottle.I might be wrong ,but im sure i once heard that these were bottles with urine inside and usually the needles ,nails or pins were often bent ,and the bottle was then placed either above the door entrance or within the walls or ceiling. The idea was that if you thought a witch was using magic against you this would reflect the spells back to the witch causing agonising abdominal pain .Anyhoo ..Another great video ,and some lovely finds . Your video's always cheer me up😊

[@michaelblanchard2548]

love the music that accompanies your videos

[@dennishudson9723]

Just got done with what I needed to do outside for the day and now I get to sit back relax and watch Alex and Gail do something neat for an hour! Just noticed the name of the storm, I swear I did not make that mess!

[@TeddyTegu]

You should get neoprene gloves that scuba divers wear, then you can get your hands wet and stay warm.

[@stefbomb2975]

“Is it whole? is it whole?. Oh my god it’s wholeeeeeeee! “. Your hilarious

[@NorthernMudlarks]

Haha! I just can't help it

[@cara_melkoala8405]

Stefanie Ferguson you’re”

[@stefbomb2975]

Cara_mel Koala - thank you!

[@ThatYarneyZebraStuff]

@@NorthernMudlarks I love your excitement!!!

[@sarahelmore83]

Here is a bit of info I found through a google search. I regularly find shells with holes in that area. “Many molluscs, such as the moon snails, prey on other molluscs by drilling a hole in the shell with their radulas, which are like ribbons with many small chitinous teeth on them, along with secreting acid to soften the shell.”

[@rhondaparker170]

My Sun is a biologist. He also says that is correct. We see a lot of drilled shells here in Florida, both in fresh and saltwater.

[@jodic7760]

My husband scuba dives and he says octopus will do the same. They even used to weigh down nets. It’s fun to learn all the possibilities!

[@danaedwards9072]

The shells were drilled to make mother of pearl buttons.

[@louisejohnson6057]

This explanation sounds like it's from a horror film! Didn't the title creature in "Alien" drip acid? Regardless, it sounds really unpleasant.

[@debbieoberacker8614]

I clap and applaud you when you find beautiful bottles and pipes. I love watching your treasure videos!

[@janicematthewman6947]

You both make me so happy, i love your videos and all the beautiful scenery and especially the heartwarming folk music you play i love history, take care, wishing you a merry Christmas and very best wishes for 2021 xx🎅❤⛄❄🌲

[@wheezyjefferson9136]

The oyster shells with the holes, at least where I live (midwestern US), were used for making buttons.

[@mymagiclieswithin]

I had a wonderful time tagging along with you today! Oh, the embossed bottles are just fabulous and I am absolutely loving the cream pots...we don't have anything like that in the states. The pipes are treasures, another thing I have never seen here. The scenery that you film, along with the music, is so peaceful and calming, I always feel so much better after watching. Till next time, please take care. ~Jen

[@vaijayanti_prememalcolm8160]

Your knowledge of things and excitement are just so special, your my favourite thing to watch 😀

[@jerlynneallison6361]

A harp & a shamrock? Maybe it's a Guinness pipe! 🤣🤣❤

[@leelomba]

Oliver! Oh, I do think that’s my most absolute favorite of all your finds ever! ❤❤❤

[@LindaPatton1980]

Hahahah @ Alex with the behind the scenes and Gail with her sassy back talk-- loved it!!!

[@brendaprice7686]

I can just say how much I LOVE watching your videos. You ladies rock👍🏻 great finds. Thanks for sharing.

[@laurawatkins9399]

One of my favorite parts of this video is the howling window. :D

[@mamalique]

So excited too when you found the whole bottle Alex! Love all the finds, especially the kick ups, old bottle pieces and cream jars. Fabulous finds!

[@cambellesoupgirl]

The oyster with holes that size are found on the Mississippi River in the US are remnants of mother of pearl buttons.

[@sarapulford5957]

🇬🇧 That's interesting.

[@judybeeding1813]

Every body along the Mississippi river had mussels that had been from the many button companies. I grew up in Muscatine Iowa . The Pearl Button Capital of the World.

[@sharimullinax3206]

My grams used to polish the mother of pearl buttons in a factory in Central Illinois.

[@chrisdarbes8988]

Ohhhhhh a cliffhanger,you found something about a jug ohhhhhhh man ,can’t wait to see whatcha found ,thanks for taking us on your adventure,☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️

[@lynnettemcelmurray4597]

Wow...these things are amazing!!! So enjoy your adventures!!! ...y'all could open a museum!!!💝

[@jeffreybird1308]

Great video! I enjoy how you show the scenery and you are both very charming. Thank you for taking us along.

[@bonnerdebbie]

Awesome finds Ladies, thanks for taking us along.

[@jacklisiecki2389]

Wow! Some impressive bottle and cream pot finds. Contagious enthusiasm to be sure. I loved the intact cod bottle - first one I've seen. A witch's bottle no less. Amazing! Thanks for a great video.

[@nilo70]

You ladies ROCK ! Thank you for sharing this with us !

[@teresasallam9526]

Another morning enjoying my coffee and your videos. Love those bottles you found. Gail you made me bust out laughing at the end clip. That was too funny.

[@Squatchladypa]

Thank you for sharing your wonderful finds... I find watching your videos relaxing....Have a great day!

[@lizzy2mellow]

I live in the Scottish Borders and its lovely to see all your finds and the effort you put in to look them up. I have been collecting the odd bits here and there for years when out dog walking or on the beach with the kids. Recently we have been purposefully going out to 'lark about and its hard work too lol. Its fascinating whats still just lying about. My fav has to be the old bottles and you have so many great ones here. All the best ladies and I look forward to more videos to come.

[@domenicas.2645]

I was just as excited as Alex! Great finds! I think the mugs with Dickens' illustration, the first one comes from A Tale of Two Cities. And Gail at the end of the outtake....I love it!! So funny. 😆

[@stevebradford8549]

I must say I enjoy your programs immensely, thank you for them!.

[@NorthernMudlarks]

Glad you like them!

[@ricksheetz1873]

my grandfather used to collect the shells for the button factory in the town he lived in, great bunch of bottles, again I love the way you show the scenery around you with the music, great video, will be looking forward to next one, take care.

[@lisapavlescak1708]

Alex you're excitement is so awesome!!!!

[@Padraigan13]

A long set of tongs or something similar would work for reaching items in the water. :)

[@amandapittar9398]

I love they way you discard the plain marmalade jars. I would be ecstatic to find ONE of those. Great video, thank you for freezing on my behalf! I also adored the banter at the end, like me and my daughter lol.

[@stephendadd8440]

Love your latest video ladies! Alex - you are SO funny when you get excited! - Very entertaining! You are very lucky that the bottles you find are not "sick". I bought a bottle tumbling machine at the end of last year, but it takes a lot of learning to get good results. It is still a work in progress! Love the blooper bit on the end. Your confidence and film-making skills go from strength to strength. Well done!

[@sarahstrong7174]

Thankyou for sharing. I get excited when you do too.

[@fionataylor.yarn-over-fee3040]

I'm hooked on your mudlaking and beach find videos. We are so lucky to have many beaches near. I'm in North Glasgow so often go on the 45min journey to visit the Ayrshire coastal beaches looking for sea glass, agates and pebbles to polish. Keen now to try the rivers nearby. I would love to find clay pipes! Look forward to your next video. 😊

[@RebeckaSarkozy]

Alex, no reason to be embarrassed. I would have reacted exactly the same! lol

[@Ghosts-of-York]

great videos thanks for sharing with the world 😍😍😍😍👌👌

[@babybyrd2121]

Boy that was fun! Such cool things. A witch bottle! Wow! And a whole codd bottle. Yeah y’all need a grabber, it would have saved your poor hands on this trip Alex. Thanks for a great Sunday afternoon.

[@micahperkins7509]

You guys are a joy!! My daughter and I love to snuggle in and watch ya’ll!!! We get overly excited with Alex!!!! Thank you for sharing such beautiful cinematic shots too! Lovely!!!

[@NorthernMudlarks]

Aww, too cute! Thank you so much for watching you two! xx

[@johnnabuzby6103]

@@NorthernMudlarks During your intro Gail and Alex, I about had a heart attack seeing the big tractor trailer rig coming around that curve at the time y'all were going into it. So glad you got to your destination safely.

[@pamclift5446]

Love the bottles. Loved the cod bottle. I would of had a hard time leaving the bottle dig area. Such great finds.

[@davidcox2264]

Alex needs to show a little more excitement on this videos 😂

[@Coalface]

I’ve been watching your vids for a few months now (stumbled across them from metal detecting videos and love your whole ‘vibe’)… walking my dog earlier she jumped in the stream to cool down and I found myself picking out all these cool bits of pottery, random things like forks and a pin badge! I was loving it, your obviously a good influence! 😂😅

[@SugarCookie1127]

I LOVE watching your videos. My favorite ones are the bottle dump ones. I’m fascinated with old bottles. My family loves to find old homesteads in West Virginia (USA) and dig the outhouse holes. That’s where everyone tossed their stuff back in our pioneer days. I’ve pulled several amazing things myself but nothing as cool as your stuff.

[@leeklassy1012]

As always you opened a door and I went through. I started looking to see if any witch's bottles had been found here in America. Apparently there are only 8 documented one being the Essington Witch Bottle from Pennsylvania, dated late 18th century.

[@khall999]

Such a delight to watch you two wonderful gals

[@leeklassy1012]

Another enjoyable adventure, beautiful photography, relaxing music and as always such interesting history. Thanks again for sharing and have a great week ahead.

[@moey100]

Gail & Alex I love your videos! I live by the ocean & find shells with holes in them too. Bivalve shells (clams, mussels. oysters) have holes in them because mollusks (snails) have used their raspy tongues to bore a hole. Then they can eat the contents of the bivalve. I collect the shells with holes to make wind chimes, pendants & more. :D

[@kathymoreaux9467]

I don’t know how I have missed seeing this video but I was excited I had! I get great pleasure watching you two find your treasures! I love all the finds but I will have to my favorite part was the blooper at the end! It gave me quite a giggle! I would love to know more about y’all! Like do you have day jobs or y’all fortunate enough just getting to do mudlarking? Are y’all original from Scotland or England? My maternal grandfather’s ancestors are from Scotland! His surname is Elliott and we are decedents from the Border Reiver clan. I just love to know more about you all! My daughters tell me I ask to many questions! I said well you can’t learn without asking! Thanks for sharing your joy with us! 🥰

[@lindapeterson9267]

I love the car trip through the countryside.......

[@stephencunliffe3062]

Some nice finds this time girls. Loved the Codd bottle. Keep up good work.

[@Crazy.Sheller]

Love the history you include with your finds

[@stuartpye2217]

well done u found some good finds great cod bottles and the cream jugs

[@diymommie]

I was really surprised to hear you say “ain’t”, or amn’t, as it was used in old times. We say ain’t here in southeastern United States. I’ve always thought it was a southern dialect that we came up with, but I’m very pleased to know that it actually came from our Scots Irish ancestors.

[@tnguyen9763]

I think the walkie talkies are great. Wow... you sure did find some nice stuff. Your excitement is very contagious. I was getting excited with you.

[@NorthernMudlarks]

They are certinly very usefull! We were very lucky this week. Thank you for coming with us! x

[@EmziieLou77]

The cod bottle and glass stopple bopper are beautiful!

[@mary-anneswanson5671]

Love the bottles and glass bits . I would use bits of colored glass for making sun catchers. Take care ladies.

[@shishkebab5306]

The grab sticks they use for litter picking would be handy for you while searching water. Loved the video.

[@margchalmers734]

Oh wow I just loved this! How interesting and fun!

[@fairyGrandmother]

Wow great adventure, with lots of finds! TFS Big Hugs!

[@leerussell6801]

Debbie here..you have inspired me to find an old dump by us..I have! 💚 so much fun digging...question? How do you clean them? Can you give us a vlog on cleaning bottles?

[@andreivanpopa]

I'm just like you every time I find a beautiful bottle. :D

[@eba44]

What a brilliant episode! I was actually leaning in and laughing (I scared my cat Sarah Jane) during the exciting bottle dump portion!!! I love all your finds- and am so glad you brought us along! And i'll be interested to know how your various sites have been effected by the extreme weather you've had. Cheers!

[@CatsEyeArt5150]

Fantastic finds! I love the howling wind😆

[@lovelyskull3483]

Wow, great finds, such an enjoyable video. I waited all day to watch in peace and quiet with a cup of tea.☮️🇨🇦

[@NorthernMudlarks]

Aww! Well we are glad you enjoyed it! xx

[@jbelme1]

Great video as always. Very fun. I really enjoyed the intro drive to the site. Watched it twice.

[@kennethboydsr3966]

I love Scotland the bridges and the buildings are so cool and look to be very kept if I wasn’t so old (72) I would sell out and move there that’s where my roots are love you two your so entertaining ❤😊

[@peachstateexplorer8004]

Once again amazing finds!!! I love the cream jars, beer and cod bottles!!!! With all the awesome finds, Alex you deserve to be super excited!!!!!🤗🤗🤗🤗 I can not express in words of how much I enjoy your videos!!!!!! Happy Hunting and look forward to your up coming videos....... - Peter

[@NorthernMudlarks]

Hi Peter! Thank you so much, we are so glad you enjoy them!! I (Alex) just love all those bottles! Gail & Alex x

[@andie2809]

I believe they used to make buttons from the shells of oysters! Those bottles though!! Amazing! I would stay at the bottle dump all day!😁😀

[@stephencunliffe3062]

Waw what a great selection. Love the Cod bottle. Brilliant keep up the great work 10/4..lol.

[@LizJr88]

Wonderful finds! I would have gotten overly excited as well!! ❤️

[@lisafarr2317]

Fab vid. Think it was the most fruitful lark you have had so far. U had some lovely finds.👍👍👍👍👍💖

[@NorthernMudlarks]

We diddn't expect much but luck was on our side I think 😊 Thank you for coming along xx

[@nancymanuel8536]

The whole cream jar is just beautiful

[@samanthaobertelle4966]

I think the holes in the shells are from making buttons .. makes sense as there were all shapes ! ... great finds x

[@markduncan6690]

Nice Intro music! Exciting times, just after a raging storm! Good Luck!

[@janicecooper875]

That one was an interesting and varied video. I loved the 'stumpy' bottle, sort of yellow l think. I wonder what stories might come out of the 'witches' bottles, hmmmm!!!. No cats or Schwoos today, only a chook and bell. Love to my little critters anyway. Love to you both. Xxxooo

[@jennywalborn7769]

Those bottles were gorgeous!! Awesome finds!!

[@michoish9476]

I love the excitement!!! I’m the same! I’m usually mudlarking by myself though, so the squeals of delight make me look like a crazy person!

[@dennishudson9723]

Time team, one I’ve my favorite shows! I was kind of lucky being in the states that I didn’t know about it and I stumbled upon it on KZbin about three years ago and I had 20 something years of episodes to watch! What a great show, I keep finding ones I haven’t seen yet.

[@NorthernMudlarks]

We are lucky to have dug with Stuart Ainsworth off Time Team - a really nice and knowledgeable gentleman! xx

[@dennishudson9723]

Northern Mudlarks Wow! That is awesome!

[@mewzishun]

I thought Time Team was a reference to Dr. Who. ☺

[@BLSachinSingh]

Still watching your videos...love them...

[@NorthernMudlarks]

Aw thank you so much! We're glad you like them 😊

[@SomeRandomName77]

I love your mooing ghost cow window! We had one at our 100 year old farm house. ☺️

[@corinneone]

Alex I absolutely loved it when you get excited. I get excited too! I feel like I’m right there with you discovering these glorious ancient finds. The bottles are my favorite! And I think this is the best of the best of bottle finds for you guys. I love the history Gail conveys on the pieces. I learn so much. Thank you both.

[@AmyJo5578]

You have inspired me to find bottle dumps here in the states. I haven't looked on my own but I was looking on our local facebook place and this lady had some old bottles . I went to check them out and her son worked in Salt Lake City, UT and Portland,OR at some old house remodels and he started digging around on his lunch break and found some bottles and gave them to his mom. She was cleaning out and but them up to sell. I bought about 40 bottles. Some are so interesting but I mostly collect the plain ones to make Harry Potter potion bottles for Halloween decorations. The old bottles are so unique. I am loving your videos and I am planning a trip back to England to do this. Thanks for sharing your excitement and creativity.

[@cherylkeller7079]

Really awesome finds on this journey💕

[@richardwarnock2789]

Starfish invasives bore holes!, fantastic fines fun watching!!!; )

[@frankhuerta9341]

Those bottle bottoms would make great little hats for the right statues!

[@f.k.burnham8491]

A couple of tips ; If you get some sand and mix it with a bit of used motor oil you can store your trowels in it and it abrades off the rust a bit and keeps the blade oiled and helps prevent rust. It is an old trick here , as we used it for shovels and such. Take the legs off worn out pants below the knee and sew up the bottom. Fold the top of the leg over a string or cord and sew it around the perimeter. That makes a "bullet" proof carry bag for finds. I have made several and use them for metal detecting to put finds and garbage in. They are highly resistant to getting cut from sharp metal pieces and broken glass too. Now if you take the belt loops off the pants, you can add them to the top area of the bag and put a belt through them. Then you have them readily at hand. When they get dirty, just wash them. RE: Pottery: Richard Hemery just published an E book on pottery which I feel, would be of great value to you in identifying the pottery. He also has a KZbin channel. Those cream and cod bottles are so cool!

[@barbaracollins3015]

You two are so fun. I love your excitement over the bottles. great job ladies. The light blue carved shard is called Sgraffito Pottery. The pot has a thick glaze on the outside and the design carved into it before firing. Definitely looks like the ingredients of a witch bottle. We still make them. They're used for protection and other things, usually buried in the ground in the garden, corners of the property, etc. Yours might have been tossed into the water as part of a releasing spell. Great finds.

[@CopperHeadsMetalDetecting]

Great video again! You both find some amazing treasures.

[@jfseal38]

Phillip, with "Let's go with the Johnson's", would love those bricks! He's a big brick guy! Great video, kids, I absolutely love those bottles!!! I would die for any one of them! Beautiful! Ta! Cheers! Tony.

[@mctron22rd]

I would probably be just as excited as Alex. The Dog skull looks like Scabbers from a Tim Burton cartoon.

[@donnaheaden9515]

Take those shells with a hole an make wind chimes you could do it with those thick bottle bottoms!😊