Lego Lost At Sea: An Online Museum Of Plastic Toys Lost At Sea In 1997

In 1997, nearly 5 million bits of Lego, much of it sea themed, fell into the ocean when a huge wave hit the cargo ship Tokio Express, washing 62 containers overboard. Among the pieces lost were tiny minifig heads, their faces now mostly blank after decades at sea. All discovered on Cornish beaches.

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Plastic finds from Cornish beaches, including Lyons Maid Superheroes lolly sticks from the 70s, Lego, a Gordon Banks spot kicker from 1974 and a lucky white horse charm from a bottle of whisky.

How old is some of the plastic we find during beach cleans? This Robin Hood figure was given away free in packets of Kelloggs cornflakes some 50-60 years ago.

Plastic flowers found on Cornish beaches. In the 60s and 70s, plastic daffodils and tulips were given away free with soap powder. Customers would keep buying the brand till they had enough for a whole bunch.

Lego, false teeth, lost and discarded toys, curtain hooks, nurdles and needles, fishing beads, fake flowers, BB gun pellets. All ingredients in the plastic soup.

“All kinds of everything remind me of you.”

A guide to the Lego Lost At Sea! These are some of the pieces we regularly find washed up in Cornwall during beach cleans, though the dragons and octopuses are much sought after and can be very elusive.

Lego daisies from the 1997 cargo spill. Washed up in North Cornwall.

Lego dragons from the container ship Tokio Express, found washed up in south Devon, England in the late 1990s.