Mudlarking - Any of my UK bretheren familiar?

[TheVTCGuy]

I am not exactly sure of the rules, but to be a “Mudlarker” you have to register with the government(?). And in some cases (most) you can not use a metal detector or any kind of screen. Let me explain.


“Mudlarking” is the hobby of walking along the shore of the River Thames, and seeing what you can find from the 2,000 plus years of civilization. This is a link to Youtube, one lady that has done it for a while and I enjoy her videos. It is AMAZING what she finds! In this one, a 300 year old coin for example. A 300 YEAR OLD COIN!!!! I would be jumping up and down for a week with excitment. These mudlarkers find clay pipes from the 15 century, coins, shoes, even Roman articles. I mean, it’s like walking through history and I would give anything for an oppurtun

https://youtu.be/0fy7fbvwTKU

[77T]

Muddy good times there.

But I’d be wearing gloves along the banks of the Thames - you can pick up more than the item you spy - especially if you have a cut or scrape on your hands.


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[andromeda160]

She found a human jawbone and gold ring in another video I ended up watching. Looks like fun, I wonder why they don't bring metal detectors

[Ruud Van Driver]

You should try on the River Usk in Newport, South Wales. You’d find shopping trolleys, tyres, condoms, beer cans, shoes, plastic bags and all sorts of other, um, ‘goodies’.

[Peter99]

About 40 years ago I used to go mudlurking along the northern Thames foreshore from London Bridge to the old Queenhithe Dock, which has a history going back some 1000 years or so.
For a period I used to visit every fortnight or so which used to mean that the foreshore’s surface changed. So every visit was different. The surface generally was surprisingly hard mainly due to many years of the weight of moored barges.
During the time of my visiting barges had long gone.
So it meant a little light scraping in certain areas.
Over the few years of my visiting I found a fair few of hammered silver mediaeval and Cromwelian and always much worn Georgian coins. Clay pipe bowls, the full range could be found from 16th to 18th cent.
There was much pottery fragments. A great deal of 17th cent Bellermine ware wine jars remains.
Many mediaeval cargo lead seals could be found of various sizes together with fragments of mediaeval pilgrims badges.
For sure, my best finds were fragments of retainers lead badges of Richard 11 1367/1400 (lodged hart) and of Richard 3 1452/1485 (boar).
But all good things come to an end. Some people decided to dig big deep holes on the beach as being the best way but this was highly dangerous for walkers after the next tide.
So, quite rightly the Corporation of the City of London decided that permits had to be applied for.
Some I know have found gold coins on the beach. On sovereign was on top of a wooden bollard stump!
The best find I have ever seen from the foreshore was a medieval 18” kidney dagger in an ‘as new’ condition, which was at one time lodged in the Tower of London but where it is now I don’t know.
Happy days!
PS I can recall one day I saw a chap in a smart suit climb down the vertical ladder to the beach and commence picking his way along.
He came up to me for a few words and appears he was a lawyer on a Lawyers Convention in London from the States which I heard about from the TV news.
He was in a hotel close by and was out for an early morning walk, saw one or two people doing strange things on the beach and was curious.
I showed what I had found and what could be seen just by looking, he was quite amazed and found a few things himself. He was particularly interested in the old clay pipe bowls. I remember him saying that he was so glad he went out for that walk!
PPS I tried a metal detector but there was two much scrap iron and it could not differentiate.

[TheVTCGuy]

Originally Posted by Peter99

About 40 years ago I used to go mudlurking along the northern Thames foreshore from London Bridge to the old Queenhithe Dock, which has a history going back some 1000 years or so.
For a period I used to visit every fortnight or so which used to mean that the foreshore’s surface changed. So every visit was different. The surface generally was surprisingly hard mainly due to many years of the weight of moored barges.
During the time of my visiting barges had long gone.
So it meant a little light scraping in certain areas.
Over the few years of my visiting I found a fair few of hammered silver mediaeval and Cromwelian and always much worn Georgian coins. Clay pipe bowls, the full range could be found from 16th to 18th cent.
There was much pottery fragments. A great deal of 17th cent Bellermine ware wine jars remains.
Many mediaeval cargo lead seals could be found of various sizes together with fragments of mediaeval pilgrims badges.
For sure, my best finds were fragments of retainers lead badges of Richard 11 1367/1400 (lodged hart) and of Richard 3 1452/1485 (boar).
But all good things come to an end. Some people decided to dig big deep holes on the beach as being the best way but this was highly dangerous for walkers after the next tide.
So, quite rightly the Corporation of the City of London decided that permits had to be applied for.
Some I know have found gold coins on the beach. On sovereign was on top of a wooden bollard stump!
The best find I have ever seen from the foreshore was a medieval 18” kidney dagger in an ‘as new’ condition, which was at one time lodged in the Tower of London but where it is now I don’t know.
Happy days!
PS I can recall one day I saw a chap in a smart suit climb down the vertical ladder to the beach and commence picking his way along.
He came up to me for a few words and appears he was a lawyer on a Lawyers Convention in London from the States which I heard about from the TV news.
He was in a hotel close by and was out for an early morning walk, saw one or two people doing strange things on the beach and was curious.
I showed what I had found and what could be seen just by looking, he was quite amazed and found a few things himself. He was particularly interested in the old clay pipe bowls. I remember him saying that he was so glad he went out for that walk!
PPS I tried a metal detector but there was two much scrap iron and it could not differentiate.

Peter, you are my hero. I so badly want to do some mudlarking, it is amazing what you can find and to touch something no one else has for hundreds of years is such an incredible experience. I will be in the UK a couple weeks in May, is it possible for an American to get a temporary permit?

[Peter99]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Peter, you are my hero. I so badly want to do some mudlarking, it is amazing what you can find and to touch something no one else has for hundreds of years is such an incredible experience. I will be in the UK a couple weeks in May, is it possible for an American to get a temporary permit?

Paul, am glad you like my post.
It would seem that the Port of London Authority have taken over the issuing of permits for mudlarking on the Thames foreshore.
In turn, to apply you have to be a member of the ‘Society of Thames Mudlarks’.
I suggest best you check out the internet.
Am sure with the right approach an arrangement could be made.
However, not withstanding any permit, am sure that if you took yourself down on to the beach, looked about and had the odd scrape, no body would be duly concerned. It’s the dedicated, determined treasure hunters who they were out to stop.
The area around Queenshithe has changed enormously since 40 years ago. Then it was 18 and 19 century warehouses with a smell of spice & pepper in the air. I am not joking. Now it is all very much modernised.
The means of access to the beach was a via a vertical ladder beside the Queenhithe dock on the left looking South from Upper Thames Street.
Check out google maps.
If you venture forth it will be worth the experience, I am sure!
Wish you all the very best!

[Too Old]

Paul try looking for a programme called Mudmen on youtube
It was on the History Channel over in the UK
interesting stuff

[Peter99]

Re my above posts, thought you might be interested in a pic of some of the items I mentioned:-

1/ lead cargo seal.
Due for research, but has always thought it was William & Mary date 1689/1702.

2/ Pewter dagger chape.
Probably 14th cent, per V & A Museum London
Gothic inscription: ME ME. Short for Momento Mori. Or ‘Remember me in Death’.

3/ lead retainers badge of: Richard 111,
15thcent, unverified.

4/ lead retainers badge of: Richard 11
14th cent, per V & A. On the reverse it still has the lead slider in place.

5/ lead Ring brooch.
13th/14th cent, per V & A. Inscription reads: ISARPAR BALDASAR MEC. I.e.The three men who passed unscathed through the fiery furnace. Used as a protective charm.

6/ Iron fragment of Mail.
14/15th cent per V & A etc
Alternating, as is normal for medieval Mail, one row stamped plain rings connecting a row riveted rings etc. Being small it was most likely part of a wide ring worn around the neck of a suit of Mail.

For and idea of size the graph paper 5mm squares.
Over the period when I found these it brought home to me that by just scratching the surface history can came alive and of course whatever country one is in, history is not far away.
Although, sometimes I feel that this modern world seems sometimes to go out of it way to destroy it. I often thing that’s why it is so important that history is taught in schools. I know that in England back in the 1960’s etc, there was a general feeling of ‘off with old, on with the new’, with quite disasterous results, in many towns.
Many thanks for your interest!

[Art 1]

Thank you Peter99. I find this interesting.

[TheVTCGuy]

Wow Peter,,, just WOW! Very cool sir, thank you and I really want to do this.

[Peter99]

Re my above posts, thought you might be interested in a pic of some of the items I mentioned:-

1/ lead cargo seal.
Due for research, but has always thought it was William & Mary date 1689/1702.

2/ Pewter dagger chape.
Probably 14th cent, per V & A Museum London
Gothic inscription: ME ME. Short for Momento Mori. Or ‘Remember me in Death’.

3/ lead retainers badge of: Richard 111,
15thcent, unverified.

4/ lead retainers badge of: Richard 11
14th cent, per V & A. On the reverse it still has the lead slider in place.

5/ lead Ring brooch.
13th/14th cent, per V & A. Inscription reads: ISARPAR BALDASAR MEC. I.e.The three men who passed unscathed through the fiery furnace. Used as a protective charm.

6/ iron fragment of Mail.
14/15th cent per V & A etc
Alternating, as is normal for medieval Mail, one row stamped plain rings connecting a row riveted rings etc. Being small it was most likely part of a wide ring worn around the neck of a suit of Mail.

For and idea of size the graph paper 5mm squares.
Over the period when I found these it brought home to me that by just scratching the surface history can came alive and it still does now to me and of course whatever country one is in, history is not far away.
Many thanks for your interest!

[GradyPhilpott]

I didn't find mine on the banks of the Thames, but I do have a 2000 year old coin.

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

I didn't find mine on the banks of the Thames, but I do have a 2000 year old coin.

Your first paycheck?

[TheVTCGuy]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

Your first paycheck?

DOH!!!!!!!