Mudlarking

Ok... you've got me... what the heck is mudlarking

There was an article about it in the NY Times a week or so ago---I think it was in the Sunday magazine on May 29. Mudlarking is digging for artifacts in the tidal mud along the Thames in London. If you do it, you are supposed to wear Wellies and get tetanus shots. I believe if you find anything significant, you have to turn it over to the archeology experts......The article provided some details about "how to" get involved with it.

Laurel, if you give me a bit, I will ask my friend who goes Mudlarking by the Thames.

Kris, From what I understand, Mudlarking involves searching the mud along the Thames for artifacts, such as pottery, etc.
I may be wrong, and Laurel, feel free to correct me!

What! You never saw the movie The Mudlark? It starred Irene Dunne and Alec Guinness! ; ) BTW Mudlarks have tried to earn a living finding things that the Thames leaves behind for many centuries. It's only in modern times that it's become regulated. Pam

Laurel,
She said she's never been certified or had to get any type of license or anything...but in no way am I saying that is the final answer.

The first I read of this was on the BBC website several years ago. Some real treasures have been found in the Thames mud at low tide; coins of all time periods(1500's fairly common), medieval locks and keys and pottery pieces, Tudor era roof tiles, small bronze statues, some Bronze Age jewelery and the most famous piece, the Battersea Shield, now in the British Museum. Here's a group of Mudlarkers that will take you along with them: http://www.thamesandfield.co.uk/ and here's the BBC article on it from a year or so ago. http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/london/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8496000/8496903.stm You have to get a Port of London Authority permit. All finds are to be registered with the Museum of London. They're mapping the archaeological finds on the Thames shore. The Tower of London side of the Thames from Westminster to Wapping is out of bounds to everybody apart from museum of London "mudlarks". Your permit is for a max of 3" deep hole for "certain areas" only on the Globe side. If you do not want to dig down, only look around at what's on the sand surface, you do not need a permit.

I did it the last time I was in London, close to The Globe. Found tons of pieces of pipes, and lots of different pieces of pottery, various ages. London Walks does Thames Beachcombing walks (but not during the summer), and there are other groups that do some events during the summer. Good fun, but dirty. Bring mud proof shoes, gloves, plastic bags, and wipes or a way to clean your hands. And you must clean what you get, there can be some nasty diseases, etc. I have a big jar of my finds, love it!

Hers's a good article from National Geographic Magazine on London mudlarking: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/05/0503_040503_mudlarks.html Watch the tides while you are doing this. From the Port of London Authority, here's the tide table. http://www.pla.co.uk/display_fixedpage.cfm/id/11/site/navigation and also this link to the Port Authority has a place to click on for permit information:
http://www.pla.co.uk/search/google_search_xml.cfm http://www.pla.co.uk/News/index.cfm/flag/2/id/179363/site/News The tide can come in rather quickly. Make sure you are always near some stairs or a boat launch ramp you can climb up on. The Port Authority warns of a 25 foot increase in depth in some places near shore when the tide comes in, and warns the Thames has a swift and dangerous current. Be careful, and have fun!

I believe rebecca is correct. Per an expert on the English Antiques Roadshow; you must have a licence/permit and turn all your finds in to the Museum. So if you were to do it- probably makes sense to do it with one of those organized walks. Does seem interesting though. Except I lived on a boat on the Thames for a while and know the kind of stuff that ends up on the river bed at low tide

You people are great. Thanks for all the informaion. It looks like fun doesn't it?

Yes, Laurel, it does look like fun! I've been wanting to do this for years! The next time I'm in London, I'll be out there digging! Here is a book which may interest some of you. I'm currently reading: The Thames, by Jonathan Schneer. Pub. date 2005, Yale University Press. It's a history of the river from Roman times to present, which ends up being, of course, the history of London. Details of the Royal barges going up and down the river in Tudor times, the Great Fire, great color plates of J.M.W. Turner paintings of the river, details of the small towns from the source near Cricklade to the sea. It's a good read; not dull at all. The author is Prof. of British History at Yale, so it is well done. Beautiful cover illustration. Makes me even more curious to see what I can find while mudlarking!

ohhh... that sounds like fun!