A new mudlarking exhibition in London opens on Friday, featuring over 350 historical objects from the River Thames. It highlights the role of mudlarks in uncovering history and aims to celebrate the Thames’s archaeological significance. The exhibition runs from April 4, 2025, to March 1, 2026.
A new exhibition highlighting historical artefacts found in the River Thames will open in London. Set to launch on Friday, it showcases finds from the Thames foreshore and the vital role of mudlarks in uncovering thousands of years of history.
Historically a trade of the Victorian poor, mudlarking has transformed into a popular hobby among enthusiasts of history. Marie-Louise Plum, a passionate mudlarker, mentions, “The Thames is a really liminal zone where the past and the present meet…”
Featuring over 50 years of discoveries, the exhibition includes notable pieces like the Waterloo helmet and the Battersea shield, both found during the Victorian era, as well as contemporary items. Curator Kate Sumnall emphasises the exhibition’s aim to reflect the Thames’ wealth of secrets and the contributions of mudlarks to archaeology.
The exhibition showcases more than 350 objects, such as a 16th-century ivory sundial and unique finds including clay pipes, medieval spectacles, and 18th-century false teeth. Visitors will also learn directly from mudlarks about the processes of recording and researching their finds.
Tracing back to the mid-1800s, records show how London’s poorest communities initially scavenged the foreshore for resources. Nowadays, licensed mudlarks comb the clay banks of the Thames at low tide, unearthing historical treasures. Interest in mudlarking has surged, with a significant increase in licence applications reported since 2020.
The London Museum’s Finds Liaison Officer logs approximately 700 finds annually out of around 5,000 identified items, a few of which are incorporated into the museum’s collection. The exhibition, “Secrets Of The Thames: Mudlarking London’s Lost Treasures,” will be open from April 4, 2025, to March 1, 2026.
The upcoming exhibition in London will celebrate the rich history unearthed by mudlarks along the River Thames. With more than 350 fascinating artefacts displayed, it highlights both historical significance and the contributions of mudlarks to archaeology. The event is a tribute to the ever-evolving hobby of mudlarking, revealing London’s hidden past.
Original Source: www.standard.co.uk