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The UK’s First Major Mudlarking Exhibition – Secrets of the Themes- Mudlarking London’s Lost Treasures

The UK’s First Major Mudlarking Exhibition – Secrets of the Themes: Mudlarking London’s Lost Treasures

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The UK’s first major exhibition dedicated to mudlarking opened at London Museum Docklands this April. ‘Secrets of the Themes: Mudlarking London’s Lost Treasures’ features over 350 historical objects found in the river bed.

 

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What is Mudlarking?

 

Mudlarking Finding at the Riverbank

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

River Themes was one of the world’s largest ports in the 18th and 19th century. Traderships and vessels came and go every day loaded with goods. Sometimes some of those goods and objects ended up in the river accidentally (or not) alongside with lots of other objects people dropped in the water during the centuries.

 

Mudlarks are people who go to the riverbank during low tide to find those long lost artefacts. Their findings often include ancient coins, objects from the Roman or the Viking era. Some rare objects even date back to the Iron Age.

 

Objects Mudlarks were Searching for in the 18th Centurery - Secrets of the Themes- Mudlarking London’s Lost Treasures Exhibition

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

The earliest mudlarks were recorded in the 18th century. Mudlarking, however, was very different back then. It wasn’t a hobby at all. Instead, it was a form of income to the poor. Most often children – especially boys – and sometimes women were searching for anything in the mud they could sell. It could have been coal, rope – if in good condition – , chopper nails or iron.

Mudlarks were, in fact, the lowest members of the society.

 

“Sometimes we wade in the mud to the ankle, at other times to the knee…we seek with our hands and feet.”– Anonymous mudlark, aged 13, 1860.

 

Secrets of the Themes: Mudlarking London’s Lost Treasures

 

Riverbank - River Themes

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

Modern mudlarks are searching for historical artefacts. Little pieces of history that – with the help of museum experts – can help understanding our past.

 

‘Secrets of the Themes: Mudlarking London’s Lost Treasures’ exhibition has been created with active participation of mudlarks. As a result, the exhibition is not just about the historical pieces they’re digging up, but is also telling the mudlarks’ personal stories: how they work, how they catalogue their findings and how museum experts help them curating their objects.

 

There are over 350 objects on display from intimate pieces, such as false teeth, prosthetic eyes or shoes, to historical relics dropped in the water centuries ago.

 

Secrets of the Themes- Mudlarking London’s Lost Treasures Exhibition at London Museum Docklands

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

To make the exhibition a bit more interactive, the museum also created a fake mini riverbank scattered with mudlarked objects for visitors to explore.

 

Exhibition Highlights

 

Viking drinking horn and battle axe

 

Viking Drinking Horn and Battle Axe - Secrets of the Themes- Mudlarking London’s Lost Treasures at London Museum Docklands

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

This drinking horn was used by Vikings around 700 – 900 AD. Drinking horns were central a Viking’s life and even afterlife.

This Viking battle axe is from 800 – 1,000 AD and was probably used during battles with the Saxons to seize their wealth and enslave their people.

 

The Waterloo helmet

 

Waterloo Helmet at Secrets of the Themes- Mudlarking London’s Lost Treasures Exhibition at London Museum Docklands

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

 

This extremely rare find is an Iron Age helmet, dating back to 150 – 50 BCE.

It was found by workers in 1868 near Waterloo Bridge (that’s why the name).

 

This is the only one Iron Age helmet found in Southern England and the only one with horns ever found in Europe! It’s made of bronze with scrolling decoration and red enamel around the cap.

 

The Battersea shield

 

The Battersea Shield at Secrets of the Themes- Mudlarking London’s Lost Treasures Exhibition at London Museum Docklands

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

Highly decorated with hammered and engraved symbolic patterns (including 27 red glass studs), this shield was found by a labourer in 1857.

Similarly to the Waterloo helmet, this shield is from the Iron Age, from around 350 – 50 BCE.

 

Flint tools from the Neolithic to Bronze Age

 

Flint Tools Found in River Themes - Secrets of the Themes- Mudlarking London’s Lost Treasures Exhibition at London Museum Docklands

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

These tools made of flint are from the 3,500 – 2,000 BCE. Hundreds of axe heads, arrowheads, daggers and cutting knives like these have been found in the river during the decades.

 

Daggers and knives

 

Daggers and Kinves Found in River Themes - Secrets of the Themes- Mudlarking London’s Lost Treasures Exhibition

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

 Mudlarks sometimes find weapons, such as knives, daggers and swords. These are from the 15th and 17th centuries.

 

Shoes saved by the mud

 

 

Shoes Found by Mudlarks in the River Themes - Secrets of the Themes- Mudlarking London’s Lost Treasures Exhibition - London Museum Docklands

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

These robust marching shoes were used by soldiers around 43 BC, when the Romans invaded Britain. Two of the soles have iron hobnails which made them last very long.

 

The third sole was originally a leather sandal, similar to flip flops. The sandal has a hole for the strap (the strap is missing) to hold it onto the foot.

 

Luke Jerram: Museum of the Moon

 

Luke Jerram - Museum of the Moon

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

Your exhibition journey ends with famous artist, Luke Jerram’s giant illuminated Moon installation: ‘Museum of the Moon’.

 

It is the Moon that makes mudlarking possible by causing tides and making the water constantly rise and fall.

 

“We are lucky in London to have this amazing tidal river environment that has preserved so much of our past. Thanks to the dedication and expertise of today’s mudlarks, we are constantly uncovering new objects that inform our understanding of history.” – says London Museum curator, Kate Sumnall.

 

The Mudlark Pub

Montague Cl, London SE1 9DA

 

Artefacts at The Mudlark Pub

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

 Did you know that London has a mudlark pub? The Mudlark Pub is opened in the 18th century next to London’s oldest fruit and vegetable market, Borough Market.

 

Over the centuries the pub was a popular spot for market traders to eat, drink and socialise after a long day at work.

 

It’s just a 10-minutes walk from the best mudlark places and there are treasures and historical artefacts displayed on the walls to tell the story of mudlarking.

 

Lunch at The Mudlark Pub

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

Today the pub is part of the Nicholson’s Pub and there’s no better place for mudlarks to drink to their success (or lack of) or shoppers to dine in with friends.

 

Want to Become a Mudlark? You Need Permit and Must Report Your Finds

 

Mudlarking in River Themes

Photo: Urban Adventurer

  

Today, mudlarking is incredibly popular, however, if you want to search for treasures in the foreshore, you need permit.

 

You must hold a permit from Port of London Authority. The permit includes metal detecting, ‘beachbombing’, scraping and digging (this basically means that you’re not allowed to flip a single stone without permit).

 

The permit allows you to search the tidal Thames foreshore from Teddington to the Thames barrier.

 

At the moment there are 4,000 permits are live. However, new applicants are currently suspended due to the waiting list exceeding 10,000. The application will be reopened in due course. Keep an eye on Port of London Authority’s website.

 

Practical Info – Secrets of the Themes: Mudlarking London’s Lost Treasures

 

Personal Objects Found in the River Themes - Secrets of the Themes- Mudlarking London’s Lost Treasures Exhibition

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

 

Address

London Museum Docklands | No 1, West India Quay, Hertsmere Rd, London E14 4AL

 

Opening Times

Until 1st March 2026

10am – 5pm daily | Last entry 3:45pm

 

Tickets

Tickets from £16 | You can book on London Museum Docklands’ official website

 

Wheelchair Accessibility

The exhibition is wheelchair accessible

 

 

 

 

 

Ready for your next adventure? New exhibition opened at the National Maritime Museum, dedicated to Pirates. ‘Pirates’ exhibition is exploring fiction and reality and why pirates still fascinate us today. You will learn more about the most notorious pirates, such as Edward ‘Blackbeard’ Teach, Captain William Kidd, and Bartholomew Roberts while marvelling at real artefacts.

Treasures of the River – Mudlarking

Treasures of the River – Mudlarking

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A Mudlark is a person who scavenges in river mud for objects of value. In the 18th and 19th centuries Mudlarks were typically poor people who sold what they had found in the mud of the riverbed for living.

 

Why is River Thames the Largest Archaeological Site in Britain?

Riverbank at Low Tide

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

River Thames was once the world’s largest port. Traderships, boats, and sea vessels of all sizes came and go exporting and importing cargo around the globe. In the 18th and 19th centuries uncountable wharfs, docks, ship buildings, and warehouses stood both sides of the river.

As a result, tons of objects discarded or accidentally dropped into the water during the centuries.

Because the river is close to the sea, incoming and outcoming tides continuously bring those objects and artifacts to the surface with the mud, making River Thames the largest archaeological site in Britain. – explains Meriel Jeater, Curator at the Museum of London in Thames Festival Trust’s article.

 

Victorian Mudlarking

Mudlarking Boys in the 19th Century

Mudlarking boys in the 18th century.

Image Source: Thames Festival Trust

 

In the 18th and 19th centuries mudlarks were typically poor people, searching for anything along the river that they could sell for living. Many children, mostly boys, were doing mudlarking. They were mainly searching for practical items, such as coal, ropes, chopper nails, and iron. In the 19th century mudlarks were the lowest members of society in London.

 

Modern Mudlarking

Mudlarks

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

In modern times mudlarking has become a popular hobby. Today’s mudlarks have passion and deep interest in London’s history and archaeology. A hobby that gives a hand-on experience of British history for adults and children alike.

Mudlarks of modern days tend to look for items that personally interest them, such as coins, jewellery, old toys, knives, bottles and Chinese or Roman pottery. These are actually common discoveries.

Today organisations, such as Thames Explorer Trust  offer mudlarking experiences for kids and adults along River Thames.

During these tours, however, you are not allowed to bring artifacts home.

 

You Need Permit

Although theoretically anyone can do mudlarking in London, in practice, not. It is because anyone searching the tidal foreshore – for any reason – from Teddington to the Thames Barrier must hold a current foreshore permit from the Port of London Authority. This includes all searching, metal detecting, ‘beachcombing’, scraping, and digging. It actually means, you need a permission even to flip a stone and see under it.

 

You Must Report Your Finds

Riverbed at Low Tide

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

 Portable Antiquities Scheme Finds Liaison Officer at the Museum of London records all archaeological finds made by the public. You must report if you find anything that could be of archaeological interest.

 

The Historical Importance of Mudlarking

Artifacts found in the riverbed can still give a lot of valuable information on London’s history. These findings can alter how we see the past and even rewrite history.

Several books have been written about the artifacts found by members of the public and the Society of Thames Mudlarks. The incredible findings of toys from the Medieval period, for example changed how historians now view that period of time.

 

Mudlark Exhibitions

 Mudlark exhibitions are regularly held in different places in London. Most of those exhibitions are free to visit and no need to book in advance.

Some exhibitors even allow visitors to touch some objects of their collections (however, always ask), giving an incredible opportunity to make history tangible.

 

 Mudlarking: Lost and Found on the River Thames

 

Where: Southwark Cathedral – entry via cathedral courtyard opposite the River Thames

When: From 21 July to 30 October 2021 Open daily from 9am-5pm

Entry: Free – NO need to book a time slot

 

Mudlark Exhibition

 

Where: Chiswick Pier Trust

When: 25-26 September from 10am-4pm

Entry: Free – NO need to book a time slot

 

The Mudlark Pub

The Mudlark, Montague Close, London, Greater London, SE1 9DA

The Mudlark Pub

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

Mudlarking was so popular in the 18th and 19th centuries that there is even a pub named after Mudlarks in London.

The Mudlark Pub opened in the middle of the 1700s at the riverside and became the favourite pub of market traders of London’s oldest fruit and vegetable market: Borough Market.

The Mudlark Pub

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

The Mudlark Pub is just a 10-minute walk from one of the best mudlarking places, the Millenium Bridge. So, why not pop in for a beer and a burger after treasure hunting?

 

Ready for your next adventure? EGGOLNAD is London’s most egg-centric restaurant. Have a look.