It is no secret that one of my great passions in life is searching through the anaerobic mud of the River Thames to find little pieces of history from past lives. It all started when I used to go beachcombing in my native Cornwall. When I moved to London over 15 years ago, I naturally gravitated towards the River Thames. I can safely say that I have never been down to the foreshore and come back empty handed. There is always something washed up with the tide to inspire the imagination and set off a flurry of research - whether it's a piece of pottery, or a once treasured piece of Victorian jewellery.
I have been lucky and have found some wonderful things in the mud, and whilst "rivercombing" the shore. You can see some of our finds here in an online book which we made and you can also check out the finds section of this website.
It is not just the older finds that I am fascinated by. I also enjoy finding lost toys that live by the River, and of course, the occasional message in a bottle.
People often ask for information about mudlarking, and so I've compiled a little guide with the more commonly asked questions. If I've missed anything out, please do get in touch.
Tideline Art’s Basic Guide to Mudlarking
The River Thames is a huge archaeological site when the tide is out, and there are pieces of history wherever you look along the foreshore.
What is mudlarking? The word derives from the poor Victorian children who searched for little treasures in the mud of the River Thames to sell for a few pennies. Mudlarks now are people who search the foreshore for pieces of history and evidence of past lives.
What do mudlarks find? Anything from animal bones and teeth to pieces of pottery, clay pipes, coins, buttons, bullets, jewellery…. See our finds on www.tidelinart.com
Do I Need a Licence? The basic rule is 'surface finds' are OK but if you disturb any part of the foreshore, even to look underneath a rock, you should have a licence. Scraping the Thames foreshore surface with any type of implement is considered digging. You can apply to the Port of London Authority (PLA) for a licence and they can give clear guidance on what you will be allowed to do and where. If you are just interested in history an 'eyes only' (no digging equipment) search is allowed everywhere without a licence.
Can I Keep Everything I Find? Any object found on the foreshore over 300 years old, or which could be of significant historical interest needs to be reported to the Museum of London via their portable antiquities scheme. By doing this, a picture of historical London can be built up.
Safety – Anyone going on the foreshore does so entirely at their own risk. Be sensible. Go in pairs. Be aware of your surroundings. The Thames foreshore can be a perilous place, with deep mud and a tidal range of over 7 metres. Steps can be very slippery. The tide comes in very quickly. Consult a tide timetable. Take a mobile phone. Check your exit points and wear suitable footwear.
Id like to have a go : A good way to start out and to find out where to go and how to go about it, is to go on guided walk. There are some links below of organisations which do this. Alternatively, take a walk on the foreshore in front of the Tate Modern on the South Bank, or near St Paul’s Cathedral on the North Bank
Useful Links
The Thames Discovery Programme - for guided walks http://www.thamesdiscovery.org/
The Thames Explorer Trust – for guided walks http://www.thames-explorer.org.uk/about/
The Port of London Authority - https://www.pla.co.uk/Environment/Metal-Detecting-and-Digging-on-the-Thames-Foreshore
Information on the Portable Antiquities Scheme https://finds.org.uk/
The Museum of London http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/london-wall/
The River Thames is a huge archaeological site when the tide is out, and there are pieces of history wherever you look along the foreshore.
What is mudlarking? The word derives from the poor Victorian children who searched for little treasures in the mud of the River Thames to sell for a few pennies. Mudlarks now are people who search the foreshore for pieces of history and evidence of past lives.
What do mudlarks find? Anything from animal bones and teeth to pieces of pottery, clay pipes, coins, buttons, bullets, jewellery…. See our finds on www.tidelinart.com
Do I Need a Licence? The basic rule is 'surface finds' are OK but if you disturb any part of the foreshore, even to look underneath a rock, you should have a licence. Scraping the Thames foreshore surface with any type of implement is considered digging. You can apply to the Port of London Authority (PLA) for a licence and they can give clear guidance on what you will be allowed to do and where. If you are just interested in history an 'eyes only' (no digging equipment) search is allowed everywhere without a licence.
Can I Keep Everything I Find? Any object found on the foreshore over 300 years old, or which could be of significant historical interest needs to be reported to the Museum of London via their portable antiquities scheme. By doing this, a picture of historical London can be built up.
Safety – Anyone going on the foreshore does so entirely at their own risk. Be sensible. Go in pairs. Be aware of your surroundings. The Thames foreshore can be a perilous place, with deep mud and a tidal range of over 7 metres. Steps can be very slippery. The tide comes in very quickly. Consult a tide timetable. Take a mobile phone. Check your exit points and wear suitable footwear.
Id like to have a go : A good way to start out and to find out where to go and how to go about it, is to go on guided walk. There are some links below of organisations which do this. Alternatively, take a walk on the foreshore in front of the Tate Modern on the South Bank, or near St Paul’s Cathedral on the North Bank
Useful Links
The Thames Discovery Programme - for guided walks http://www.thamesdiscovery.org/
The Thames Explorer Trust – for guided walks http://www.thames-explorer.org.uk/about/
The Port of London Authority - https://www.pla.co.uk/Environment/Metal-Detecting-and-Digging-on-the-Thames-Foreshore
Information on the Portable Antiquities Scheme https://finds.org.uk/
The Museum of London http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/london-wall/
And remember, most of all, have fun!
