STORIES FROM THE THAMES

Introduction

This is Nicola White, self-proclaimed “mudlark” and founder of Tideline Art. Nicola regularly uploads videos to her YouTube channel showcasing her incredible treasures and finds. Over the next 12 months, Nicola will be sharing her fascinating stories and finds with us on the Muck Boot blog! 
 
When I moved from Cornwall to London over twenty years ago, I had no idea that the River Thames would show me such a fascinating and magical world, and that its muddy banks at low tide would reveal a wealth of historical secrets and figures from the past. I was used to walking along windy beaches in Cornwall and discovering finds, but I never thought that something similar could be possible in an urban environment like London.

One weekend in Greenwich, looking over the river wall, I noticed some old stone steps leading to a large exposed stretch of beach below me. I carefully descended and immediately felt a sense of peace and tranquility as I reached the beach. Closing my eyes for a moment to listen to the fast-flowing river and the squawking gulls, I felt transported back to a beach in Cornwall for a moment. 
 
I continued to stroll and saw small fragments of pottery and glass peeking out from between stones and oyster shells. Among them, I also saw strange small cylindrical pieces of white clay. I later learned that these were fragments of old clay tobacco pipes, discarded centuries ago by Londoners. I was thrilled by all the stories I held in my hand and wanted to learn more. 

I later found out that what is known as “mudlarking” (composed of the English words “mud” and “lark”) is indeed a recognized term, and that there are many people fascinated by the historical artifacts exposed by the Thames at low tide. I applied to the Port of London Authority for a “Permit to Search the Thames Foreshore”, and from the moment I held it in my hands, I often put on my boots in my spare time and set off to explore different sections of the Thames foreshore. 
 
Many years have passed since that first accidental visit to the banks of the Thames in Greenwich, and I have been fortunate enough to find some extraordinary objects during my search in the mud. Some of them are registered with the Museum of London in the Portable Antiquities Scheme database. “Treasure hunters” are obliged to record their finds. This is important because it allows the museum to get a picture of what was happening in London and where. In most cases, once recorded, the objects are returned to the finder.
 
In the next blog posts, I will report on some of my finds. But first, I want to tell the story of one of my absolute favorite pieces. This object represents for me the essence of mudlarking.
 
I remember the day well. It was March and drizzling. I was searching for traces in an area along the Thames that used to be a ship breaking yard. The mud was strewn with pieces of metal. As my gaze wandered between the old brass nails and rivets, a small piece of brass shone through the rain. When I picked it up, I noticed the faint engraving of a name – F. Jury, 72 Woolwich Road, SE10. Using this information, I discovered the story of Frederick Jury, born in 1873. Frederick fought in the trenches of World War I and suffered severe injuries when he was hit by a shell. However, he survived and was discharged with a silver war medal. He died in 1932. I located the cemetery near Greenwich where he was buried, and with the help of the cemetery caretaker, I found Fred’s final resting place – in the paupers’ graves area, under a pile of brambles. Now I return every year to place flowers on his grave.

Since Frederick Jury himself never had children, telling his story is something special. Had I not put on my rubber boots that rainy day in March and found his luggage tag, Fred's story might still be forgotten in the mud. Fred is just one of many people whose story has been brought back to life by a find from the mud. These kinds of valuable finds are what keep me returning to the Thames at low tide.

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