The Thames’ long-lost treasures: a must-see at London Museum Docklands

Uncovering London's lost treasures  

When asked to visit London Museum Docklands’ newest exhibition, I was immediately intrigued. London is full of stories from the past – whether Roman, Tudor or more recent – and over the years I’ve heard about remarkable objects surfacing across the city. I’d often noticed people on the Thames foreshore, seemingly searching for something out of the ordinary. Little did I know this had a name – mudlarking – and that it’s become such a popular activity it now requires regulation. 

I discovered a whole community of modern-day treasure hunters, unearthing the most unexpected items and, in the process, bringing bits of London’s long history back to the surface. Today, the river continues to give up its secrets – objects thrown or dropped into the water reappear on the muddy banks, offering a rare insight into the lives of those long gone.

Modern-times mudlarking 

With tides constantly shifting and river cruises going up and down the Thames, long-lost treasures are still being drawn to the surface – turning the river into a time capsule that keeps on giving. The Secrets of the Thames exhibition at London Museum Docklands showcases over 350 finds from 50 mudlarks. Each object offers a glimpse into how people lived, worked, survived – and even how they spent their free time.

What began as a trade of the poor – mainly Victorian women and children scraping the banks for coal, rope, metal or anything worth selling – has since evolved into a respected archaeological practice and popular hobby. Today’s mudlarks come from all walks of life: artists, historians, researchers and more, all working closely with London Museum. Finds must be reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS), and anything 300 years old or more goes directly to the museum team, who work to trace its origin, use, and occasionally piece together fragments.

The exhibition explores this collaboration through interviews with mudlarks, who share what the practice means to them – many speak of a sense of purpose, discovery and community. But don’t think you can just grab a trowel and head to the riverbank. Mudlarking is strictly regulated by the Port of London Authority (PLA), which issues permits to would-be treasure hunters. With interest soaring, the PLA has paused new licence applications – over 10,000 people are currently on the waiting list.

Did you know? The Society of Thames Mudlarks (or what I like to call the elite mud diggers), founded in the 1980s, has worked closely with London Museum for decades. Membership is limited to just 50 licensed mudlarks – a very exclusive club.

Fun facts: the stories behind the objects

I had the chance to be shown around the exhibition by a staff member who’s worked closely with the curating team at London Museum Docklands and offered some great insights and fun facts about the top exhibits. 

Immersing us into the world of mudlarks, I am transported into the very environment mudlarks are exposed to day and night. From soundscapes recreating tidal sounds to mounts of scraps and objects thrown on the muddy and cobbled banks of the Thames, there’s no doubt what the exhibition is about. 

One standout feature is Finders Keepers, a series of three sculptures by mudlark and artist Billie Bond. The sculptures represent three mudlarks and explore the relationship between the searcher and the found, with each figure’s head replaced by an object – forcing us to question, who really found who?

Beads are common finds on the riverbank, but one discovery by Caroline Nunneley stood out: a small carved skull bead that when flipped reveals the portrait of a young woman. Known as the Memento Mori bead, it’s believed to have been part of rosary beads dating back to the 1400s. The intricate bone carving is now on display, rotating for all to admire its dual meaning and striking reflection on mortality.

Another common find among mudlarks is pipes – today’s equivalent of cigarettes, and maybe even tomorrow’s vapes. These wooden and clay pipes were often used to curl wigs, which were all the rage in the 1700s!

And then there’s the whale bone – definitely not something I expected to see. The bone was discovered in Rotherhithe, once the heart of London’s whaling trade. With wood in short supply at the time, whalers used whale bones to repair their ships.

Look out for these unexpected finds!

When I headed to London Museum Docklands, I didn’t expect to find myself face-to-face with what looked like Mad-Eye Moody’s prosthetic eye – but there it was! A striking blue eyeball from the 1920s, just lying there, perfectly preserved as if it had just popped out yesterday.

Next up? A set of gnashers – yes, false teeth made from actual human teeth. Most likely gathered from corpses and assembled into a full set. Can you imagine wearing those? I actually gasped just thinking about it!

And just when I thought nothing could top that… Now, picture this: an entire typewriting set of metal letters from the Dove Press – weighing over a tonne, dumped into the Thames out of pure spite. After a ten-year legal feud over who would own the press, one of the co-owners decided to settle things by throwing every single piece of type into the river. Over 170 trips to Hammersmith Bridge. Now that’s commitment.

19th century scams

Daggers were a common find on the riverbed – after all, what better place to ditch illegal items and weapons than the dark, murky waters of the Thames? It’s been said that early mudlarks could make the equivalent of £200,000 in today’s money. I’ll eat my hat if that’s true – knowing historians often describe mudlarking as little more than scraping together scraps to survive. 

And then there are the leg irons and ball chains – grim relics from the 1600s used to restrain prisoners, many of whom were bound for colonies like Australia. Some clearly made bold escape attempts, judging by how many of these objects have been pulled from the Thames. What I wouldn’t give to know the stories of those perilous journeys across the globe…

Speaking of criminals – turns out scams aren’t as modern as we like to think. Take Billy Smith and Charley Eaton, two crafty mudlarks from the 1800s. Tired of relying on luck to find valuable items, they got creative. Using mud and a bit of trickery, they began producing replicas of pilgrim souvenirs and ageing them to look authentic. And they didn’t stop at a few... they managed to hand out over 12,000 fake relics.

Moon cycles and tides – a key to successful mudlarking

Just when you think you’ve seen it all, the exhibition hits you with a showstopper – a glowing, giant moon suspended in the dark, echoing the glow that once guided night-foraging mudlarks. Luke Jerram’s Museum of the Moon closes the exhibition on a breathtaking finale. I was completely struck by its scale, bathed in a celestial light that quietly reminds us of the moon’s vital role in a mudlark’s life.

Meet London's mudlarks

As part of London Rivers Week 2025 (30 May to 8 June), head to Walbrook Wharf and meet mudlark Liz Anderson as she shares her personal journey – how she fell into the world of mudlarking, and why these unique archaeological discoveries have captivated people for centuries.

Or join the Thames Explorer Trust on the foreshore by the Millennium Bridge for a guided walk and a chance to uncover traces of London’s past – pottery shards, old pipes and who knows what else might be waiting in the mud.