I wouldn’t blame you for not wanting to think too deeply about the possibilities of what could be lying beneath our mysterious and murky river. But for London’s mudlarkers, the River Thames is a treasure trove of historic gems. Every so often (alongside some far less showcase-able items), a little piece of history is washed up onto the banks of the Thames. It’s those fascinating finds that are the focus of London Museum Docklands’ new exhibition, which has just opened.
Showcasing ‘London’s lost treasures’, Secrets of the Thames features some of the weird and wonderful items that have been found on the foreshores of the river. It’s the very first major exhibition on mudlarking; not only exploring what it is, but also its significant role in uncovering fascinating parts of London’s history.
What is mudlarking?
A centuries-old London tradition, the beginnings of mudlarking date all the way back to the 1800s. The city’s poorest residents would search the banks of the river, looking for bits-and-bobs that they could sell to make a living. They became known as ‘mudlarks’ and, well.. the rest is history, really. It’s since become a popular hobby amongst eagle-eyed Londoners, with mudlarkers of today rummaging around the riverbeds, hoping to uncover some hidden historical treasures that have been washed up by the tide.
Inside the exhibition
Secrets of the Thames showcases some of the river’s most fascinating finds, with many lost or discarded items being exhibited for the very first time. The exhibition looks at the significant role that mudlarks play in uncovering years of history and the archeological importance of the River Thames.
Items on display include a Tudor wool knitted hat that was washed up on the riverbank approximately 500 years after it was lost, a medieval gold ring, an ornate Viking-era dagger, and –naturally – a pair of false teeth from the 18th century. The museum has also recreated an experiential foreshore, scattered with mudlarked objects for visitors to explore.
The exhibition offers a behind-the-scenes peek into how items are recorded and researched at the museum, and a glimpse at how mudlarks carefully curate their collections of finds.
London Museum curator, Kate Sumnall, said: “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. Above all, it will be an exploration of love and desire, faith and loss, migration, community and culture. The stories of generations of people who have visited the city or called it home.”
Secrets of the Thames will open at London Museum Docklands is open now. Find out more and plan your visit here.