Grotta (2001) was an original idea developed, created and co-ordinated by Stephen Turner for Whitstable Museum and Gallery.

Stephen drew on a local custom of children making Grotters out of oyster shells, with which they would hold one upturned and ask passers-by for a penny or two to ‘remember the grotta’. A. O. Collard in his book ‘The Oyster and Dredgers of Whitstable’ (1902) proposes that its origins were on 25 July, Festival of St James. Legend has it that when St James’ bones were being moved by boat from Jerusalem to Compostella in Spain, a knight fell overboard. Everyone prayed to the Saint for help and the knight was miraculously saved – his clothing covered with oysters from the seabed. The grottas were said to be small shrines built in memory of St James. Others suggest that they were first made in ancient times, to invoke the blessings of the gods for a bountiful harvest of oysters.

The custom having died out through the neglect of the oyster beds during the war years, the custom seems to have disappeared by the 1960’s along with the Whitstable Native Oyster.

Stephen’s Grotta (2021) was made on Whitstable beach, while local children took part in various workshops on the beach and at the museum.

A Canterbury City Council Arts Development initiative in partnership with Museums and Galleries. Special thanks to storyteller Linda Cotterill, the staff and children of St Mary's Catholic Primary School and St Alphage CE Infants in Whitstable for together developing new oyster ryhmes and grotters. Thanks also to: Jenny Bowmer, Jackie Browne, Sue Evans, Delia Fitt, Manda Gifford, Vanessa Griffiths, Emily Jailler, Mark Lawson, Mrs Liz Leaman, Shirley Line, Debra McGee, Mrs Gill Metcalf, Rose Stuart, Derrick and Jean West and everyone else who has helped make the project possible.

The artist would like to thank Canterbury City Council and SouthEast Arts Board for financial support; The Crab and Winkle Restaurant, Pearson's Crab and Oyster House, St. Augustine's, The Royal Native Oyster Stores and Wheelers Oyster Bar for a regular supply of Oyster shells; John Clayton, Harbour Master for arranging storage in Whitstable Harbour; Whitstable Junior School for INSET facilities; Sound arranged by Julian Coleman, City Audio Services, Rochester and finally Richard Green for giving permission to create a wave of foreshore Grotta on the evening of 24 March.