Mudlarks

On Thursday night in London, I watched mudlarks with flashlights looking through the debris on foreshore of the Thames. A “mudlark” is someone who looks for treasures, or anything of value on the banks of the river. You have to have a permit these days, and it is more of an archaeological hobby than a career, but for centuries people made a modest living from scavenging the Thames.

Sometimes the things that are worth having aren’t sitting on a shelf ready for you to buy. I’m sure it’s probably easier and more comfortable to look for treasures in the daytime, but maybe the tide isn’t right. Sometimes if you want to find something special you will have to go out when it is cold and dark and bring a flashlight and be ready to get your hands dirty.

I hope they found something great.

Here are a couple of videos of mudlarking. One from 1962 and one from this year: