Lost treasures of the Thames are revealed in new mudlarking exhibition
A Tudor wool knitted hat and a Viking-era dagger are among a series of objects found on the banks of the River Thames which are going on display for the first time.
The UK’s first major mudlarking exhibition will also feature a medieval gold ring, a pair of 18th century false teeth and a pilgrim’s badge decorated with phalluses.
Mudlarking was historically a trade of the Victorian poor, but has become a popular hobby in recent years with licensed mudlarks uncovering significant discoveries.
Now, London Museum Docklands will be hosting some of the most interesting finds in the ‘Secrets of the Thames: Mudlarking London’s Lost Treasures’ exhibition.
The year-long display, which will run from April 2025 to March 2026, will also look at the role of mudlarks in uncovering thousands of years of human history.
A Tudor knitted cap was discovered on the River Thames foreshore 500 years after it was lost
The Tudor hat from the Thames is examined by London Museum conservator Louisa Duarte
London Museum conservator Louisa Duarte studies the Tudor hat found in the Thames
The Tudor hat from the Thames is examined by London Museum conservator Louisa Duarte
An early Bronze Age arrowhead is among the remarkable finds from the River Thames bank
A medieval gold ring inscribed with the message: ‘For love I am given’ was also discovered
The reverse angle of the gold finger ring discovered in the River Thames by a mudlark
Mudlark Monika Buttling-Smith finds a fork while searching the River Thames foreshore
A medieval knife will also form part of the exhibition at London Museum Docklands next year
Mudlark Alessio Checconi crouches on a rocky shoreline as he searches for historical items
A pair of false teeth from the 18th century was also discovered by a River Thames mudlark
Another angle of the 18th century false teeth which were found on the River Thames foreshore
Mudlark Monika Buttling-Smith kneels on the shore of the Thames as she looks for objects
An item described as a ‘medieval phallus comb’ which was also discovered by a mudlark
A carved broken pipe bowl shaped like a bearded face lies half-buried among the pebbles
Among the objects set for display will be a Tudor knitted cap, discovered on the foreshore 500 years after it was lost.
Inspired by similar velvet designs worn by the wealthy during this period, the more affordable wool version is a rare survivor preserved by the unique conditions of the river.
It will sit alongside a medieval gold ring inscribed with the message: ‘For love I am given’; an ancient Viking era dagger personalised with the name of its owner, Osmund; and more everyday objects such as clay pipes.
The exhibition will recreate an ‘experiential foreshore studded with cases of mudlarked objects’, including many never-before-seen finds that the museum has recently acquired.
There will be a behind-the-scenes glimpse at how finds are recorded and researched at the museum and insights from mudlarks about how they investigate and curate their discoveries.
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.
‘It is the longest archaeological site in London and here we find an unbelievably rich selection of finds, from this astonishingly well preserved Tudor hat to the ubiquitous clay pipes that were very much the disposable vapes of their day.
‘Thanks to the dedication and expertise of today’s mudlarks, we are constantly uncovering new objects that inform our understanding of history.
‘Secrets of the Thames will showcase some of these fascinating objects and their journey from discovery to joining the museum.
‘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.’
People have lived or worked in the area around the Thames for more than 10,000 years – dating back to prehistoric communities that camped, hunted and farmed along the foreshore.
A decorated bosun’s whistle was also discovered by a mudlark on the River Thames foreshore
The reverse angle of the Bosun’s whistle which is among the items featuring in the exhibition
Mudlark Monika Buttling-Smith examines an old, green glass bottle with embossed text
A pair of medieval spectacles were also discovered on the Thames foreshore by a mudlark
A mudlark kneels on the shore of the River Thames as they look for objects
A tripod cauldron will feature in ‘Secrets of the Thames: Mudlarking London’s Lost Treasures’
Mudlark Alessio Checconi crouches on a rocky shoreline as he searches for historical items
A tobacco clay pipe is also among the discoveries which will go on show in the exhibition
Mudlark Monika Buttling-Smith kneels on the shore of the Thames as she looks for objects
An oil painting by English landscape painter Henry Pether shows Victorian-era mudlarks
Peggy Jones, who died in 1805 when this drawing was published, has been identified as one of the few women mudlarks. She was known for picking up coal in the Thames and selling it on
Then there were the Romans who founded ‘Londinium’, as the capital was previously known, and Vikings who travelled by water to expand their territory.
The Thames was also often the starting and ending point for Britain’s early days of exploration as London became the country’s first port of empire.
The area under the water of the river is therefore rich with history, with the museum describing it as a ‘living time capsule that tells stories of the ways people have survived, made a living, or enjoyed their leisure time in the city’.
The museum, located in West India Quay, was opened in 2003, occupies one of the few remaining original Grade I-listed warehouses, built in 1802 to store produce from the West Indies. It is open seven days a week from 10am to 5pm and is free to enter.
‘Secrets of the Thames: Mudlarking London’s Lost Treasures’ at London Museum Docklands, from April 4, 2025 to March 1, 2026. Tickets on sale from next February
