King of the Shells

More than half a century later, Pete Locke has finally shared what he was up to on the island shores all those years ago. 

Inspired by the shells that wash up on Tresco, Pete spent hours sifting through the sands, looking for glistening treasures to take home. He then set out to do something magical with them.

Sitting in his workshop, he made intricate wooden frames, covered them with wooden panels, and slowly and painstakingly glued on row after row of shells. In time, he emerged from his shed, weary yet satisfied, like a true inventor. On his workbench was the result.

What strikes you when looking at Pete’s creations is their distinct uniformity; the shells are all the same shade and species, and the many hours spent on the beach are apparent. With the roofs and walls made up of flat periwinkles and the poetically named necklace shell, and the tiny doors and windows covered in cowries, it is evident that each house is a product of meticulous beach combing, a pastime still enjoyed by many across the islands today (cowries being the most sought-after prize, of course).

You can’t help but wonder about the origins of the craft when admiring Pete’s shell village. Shell craft was first recorded in the 17th century. Due to a growing fascination with the natural world, it became a pastime that brought the mysterious and romanticised world of the sea into the home.

Initially a craft dominated by women in the domestic space, it later became a more grandiose hobby. Decadent shell grottos became an eccentric addition to many homesteads; the forerunners to Lucy Dorrien-Smith’s shell grotto and mosaic that brighten the Abbey Garden and Ruin.

In the mid-19th century, shell craft became the chosen pastime of nomadic ocean dwellers. Sailors would adorn wooden hinged boxes with shells from their travels and carry their creations home to their loved ones; it became known as a sailor’s valentine. Pete’s shell houses are just this: a love letter to his island home.

Born in North End cottage in June 1931, Pete is Tresco through and through. As a young boy, his daily chore was going down the hill to the well, and he talks fondly of his school years, describing how he would head to the farm to collect milk pails for himself and his friends.

After leaving school at 14, he became something of an island entrepreneur, picking up work wherever possible. He once earned a shilling delivering telegrams across the island and an extra sixpence for taking the milk from the dairy to the Abbey. Eventually, Pete got an apprenticeship as a carpenter. It would go on to be his life’s work, a career of some 51 years.

As a young man, Pete was called up for National Service for two years and was in Germany for 18 months. Despite the distance he traversed land and crystal-clear waters twice during wartime, the thought of being elsewhere for Christmas was too hard to bear.

After the war, on returning to Tresco, one of Pete’s first jobs in the carpenter’s workshop was picking shrapnel out of bomb-damaged wood so it could go through the planer.

At 92, Pete is as sprightly as ever and is known across Tresco for his active life. He is famous for his home-brewed (and particularly strong) apple wine; he has been seen – far too recently – on top of his shed carrying out roof repairs; he always has a plentiful supply of tomatoes growing in his greenhouse; and – perhaps most importantly – he hasn’t ruled out making more shell houses, although he’s not sure if he’s got the patience these days!

Whilst Pete has his own identity, more often than not, he is known as part of a rather iconic island duo. Pete and Rose have been married for 45 years, and both worked for the estate. Today, they can be found enjoying the island together, and if you wander along the front, you can often spot them on a bench overlooking the sea. Pete earnestly says, “Rose has made the rest of my life.”

Pete’s modesty is the chief reason his shell creations have been hidden in his shed all these years, and their journey to fame is thanks to the island community. Neighbour Ruth Featherstone saw the models glistening in Pete’s shed and insisted that his beautiful work be showcased. With the help of her family, she landscaped and planted the garden that now surrounds Pete’s mini-metropolis.

Islanders, as well as visitors, have since marvelled at the shell village, and they’ve attracted attention from further afield, too. In truth, Pete has become something of a celebrity, with BBC Spotlight even running a feature on the King of the Shells.

So, if you are strolling along the seafront towards the quay and have a spare moment, take a turn before the boatyard and marvel at Tresco’s shell village. Witnessing it ignites a curious combination of nostalgia and a relishing of the island community we so cherish today.

The display has also become an opportunity to raise money for The Island Haven – a charity close to the island’s heart, fundraising to build a home for islanders undergoing mainland medical treatment. If you are passing, maybe pop a donation in the bucket; perhaps it will encourage Pete to head back to the Tresco shores and sift through the sand once more…