Mudlarking: Lost and Found on the River Thames

Product Information

I was amazed at the sheer amount of things that appear out of the mud....a mud that acts as a preservative to tobacco pipes, coins, buttons and shoes, old weapons, bones and bottles, and so much more.....but this book isn’t just an account of what author Lara Maiklem has found, it’s also a truly brilliant history lesson, as she explores the provenance of her discoveries, and imagines the lives of those people who had used and lost the artefacts she uncovers. I've had a passing interest in mudlarking and toshing that I think I can attribute to Joan Aiken's Midnight Is A Place, which I read when I was about ten. But I honestly thought it was something that happened in, like, the Victorian era because having seen the state of the Thames (and the Yarra, tbh), I can't really imagine anyone voluntarily searching for lost treasures in the tidal mud flats of the riverbank. But turns out there's a thriving community!

In summary, I adored learning more about the history of the River Thames, I was gripped by every item the author discovered and researched but I could happily have done without the memoir aspect with no sense of loss at all. Another thing that irked me was her belief that a portion of the shore had been taken away from her. When telling the reader about nets of stones placed against the river wall in Greenwich in an attempt to prevent erosion, she says: Today, mudlarking is a hobby rather than an occupation, with participants looking for items of archeological, rather than monetary value. Some mudlarks even take metal detectors down to the riverbanks to help them in their search.Thirdly, walking on the foreshore of the Thames is dangerous. Permit holders are warned of the hazards of going down to the river bank, and advised to go in groups. The type of mud under the river and fact that the area’s been home to civilisations for so long also means that there’s a lot to be found there. As well as searching by eye and hand, digging and scraping, some modern mudlarks also use metal detectors.

This is a wonderful idea since modern day scavenging isn’t for coal, food or items just washed into the river but a history lesson and more akin to river archaeology.Items also often end up on display to the public, whether as part of a permanent or temporary exhibits.

The term “mudlarking” was originally used in the 19th century, and late 18th century. It described the activity of poor people in London who would scour the foreshore of the river Thames at low tide looking for items they could sell. I have always enjoyed spending time on the river and those journeys have enhanced my experience in visits to the capital. Now in this one book about a historical pastime I have received a fresh insight. Plus, anyone in London or beyond can attend Jason's free webinar talk ahead of the event, starting at 7.30pm on Tuesday, September 21. So wonderfully crafted and written, it covers the range of this peculiar pastime along the Thames from West to East. That is from Tidal Head to Estuary.If you want to start mudlarking as a hobby, you may wish to join some mudlarking groups in London, and follow some well known mudlarkers on social media. The exhibition, running until Saturday, October 30, is part of the Cathedral’s River Season. This series features a number of mudlarking tours and relevant talks, with visitors able to bring along their own finds to be identified to the celebration on the final day. This is one of the best non-fiction books I have read in a long time. I am amazed it is Lara’s first move to becoming a published author. I’m sure it was a hard slog and kept her from those hours of solitude and peace beside her beloved river. Her efforts are well received and she can be so proud of her disciplined writing and research. Her approach sustained my interest throughout the journey along the river and I would recommend this book without reservation to all.