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London in Fragments: A Mudlark's Treasures
'A beautiful book.' Daily Mail
'Exhilaratingly curious.' Evening Standard
'Gripping.' Spectator
'Brilliant.' Penelope Lively
'Indefatigably researched.' Country Life
'Beautifully illustrated.' Monocle
Mudlarking, the act of searching the Thames foreshore for items of value, has a long tradition in England's capital. In the late 18th and 19th centuries, mudlarks were small boys grubbing a living from scrap. Today’s mudlarks unearth relics of the past from the banks of the Thames which tell stories of Londoners throughout history. From Roman tiles to elegant Georgian pottery, presented here are modern-day mudlark Ted Sandling's most evocative finds, gorgeously photographed. Together they create a mosaic of everyday London life through the centuries, touching on the journeys, pleasures, vices, industries, adornments and comforts of a world city. This unique and stunning book celebrates the beauty of small things, and makes sense of the intangible connection that found objects give us to the individuals who lost them.
'Exhilaratingly curious.' Evening Standard
'Gripping.' Spectator
'Brilliant.' Penelope Lively
'Indefatigably researched.' Country Life
'Beautifully illustrated.' Monocle
Mudlarking, the act of searching the Thames foreshore for items of value, has a long tradition in England's capital. In the late 18th and 19th centuries, mudlarks were small boys grubbing a living from scrap. Today’s mudlarks unearth relics of the past from the banks of the Thames which tell stories of Londoners throughout history. From Roman tiles to elegant Georgian pottery, presented here are modern-day mudlark Ted Sandling's most evocative finds, gorgeously photographed. Together they create a mosaic of everyday London life through the centuries, touching on the journeys, pleasures, vices, industries, adornments and comforts of a world city. This unique and stunning book celebrates the beauty of small things, and makes sense of the intangible connection that found objects give us to the individuals who lost them.
256 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2016
50 people are currently reading
445 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
March 2, 2021
I was expecting something different from this book. I had listened to a very interesting radio 4 programme about mudlarking and the huge variety of artifacts found on the banks of the Thames. Although this had some interesting information and beautiful photos of pottery pieces, the book contained little else other than pieces of pottery. I was hoping for other items, if this had been called Mudlark’s Pottery Shards it would have done it’s job. I enjoyed a page about a piece of pottery that portrayed an American girl called Susanne who made her fame in a folk song. Susanne didn’t want to wrap up warm to go out and play so she froze to death. I had never heard of this before, but it’s not surprising this tale exists since I bet there is no child on earth who hasn’t claimed they’re warm enough rather than put on another layer!
Stubborn Susanne earns this book another star.
Stubborn Susanne earns this book another star.
June 19, 2021
This was a compelling and thoroughly enjoyable read from start to finish with plenty of insight into a fascinating topic written in an accessible and eminently readable fashion. Not only it insightful and educational but it's also entertaining to read; the best of both worlds. What more could you ask for?
May 17, 2018
My Grade = 98% - A+
Wowser! What a fabulous book this was for me.
It is about Mudlarking (Beachcombing) on the banks of the Thames River, in Central London, a tidal river whose surface goes up and down as much as 21 feet, twice a day..
Imagine being at an open and unguarded archaeological site in the center of one of the oldest, most populated, and most important cities in the world. Imagine being on the banks of the Thames and not seeing another person (unless they are on the Queen's Jubilee Walk along both sided of the river or crossing on the Millenium (Wobbly) Bridge above. Imagine absolutely no traffic except for that on the bridges, such as Southwark or Blackfriars, or the jets flying out of one of the five Heathrows, at the rate of about one a minute.
This book is the author's record of his pickings on the river complete with many dozens of full page photos of his finds, broken down into categories such as clay pipes, pottery and dish fragments, tiles, personal adornments, bottles and utilitarian objects.
I have been to London dozens of times, and every time since about 1998, if I am in London on that day I spend 1-3 hours on the banks of the Thames discovering new treasures. On two of these trips, upon my return home, I gathered all my finds and put them on the bathroom scale to discover that they weighed in at 35 pounds each time. Since then, I have become much more picky.
My finds range from Bronze Age items, Roman glass and tiles, Medieval fragments, tons of Victoriana - all the way up to yesterday's Bass Ale or Stella Artois bottle. (I mainly use many of these fragments to make mosaics, to frame in groupings, or just to display.)
For me, this was a fabulous summary of the finds I have made and the pathways and access to the river.
The bookcover has a photo of more than 50 of the finds concentrated on in this book, and I can say that if I do not have every one of these fragments, I do have at least a representative sample of each one.
The item that most surprised me (upper center left, just below the pipe) was a tiny item in the shape of a canoe paddle riddled with holes. It reminded me of one of the coffee stirrers McDonalds gave out in the 1970's. I was amazed to learn that it was part of a bone toothbrush, without the bristles.
Some items the author never included were teeth and bones (of which there were many), rocks made of solid chalk (for many years I would take a stack of these back to the hotel where I would dry them out and then take them to my classroom where I would use them on the blackboard - much softer and better than school provided chalk. I even have many the size of small footballs that I have on display. Most though, I called "fingerlings," like the potatoes, as they were the easiest with which to write on the blackboard.
He also never mentioned coins. Understandable, as in my at the very least 100 trips to the river, I never found a single one.
I know from my reading that anything found underground is the property of the Queen and must be reported to the Coroner's Office. All the finds mentioned above, however, are sitting right on top of the ground, sand, beach, so the only things that must be reported are any of historical significance.
Because of the rapid tide, I could go to the same spots every day for ten days and find different things every day.
Wowser! What a fabulous book this was for me.
It is about Mudlarking (Beachcombing) on the banks of the Thames River, in Central London, a tidal river whose surface goes up and down as much as 21 feet, twice a day..
Imagine being at an open and unguarded archaeological site in the center of one of the oldest, most populated, and most important cities in the world. Imagine being on the banks of the Thames and not seeing another person (unless they are on the Queen's Jubilee Walk along both sided of the river or crossing on the Millenium (Wobbly) Bridge above. Imagine absolutely no traffic except for that on the bridges, such as Southwark or Blackfriars, or the jets flying out of one of the five Heathrows, at the rate of about one a minute.
This book is the author's record of his pickings on the river complete with many dozens of full page photos of his finds, broken down into categories such as clay pipes, pottery and dish fragments, tiles, personal adornments, bottles and utilitarian objects.
I have been to London dozens of times, and every time since about 1998, if I am in London on that day I spend 1-3 hours on the banks of the Thames discovering new treasures. On two of these trips, upon my return home, I gathered all my finds and put them on the bathroom scale to discover that they weighed in at 35 pounds each time. Since then, I have become much more picky.
My finds range from Bronze Age items, Roman glass and tiles, Medieval fragments, tons of Victoriana - all the way up to yesterday's Bass Ale or Stella Artois bottle. (I mainly use many of these fragments to make mosaics, to frame in groupings, or just to display.)
For me, this was a fabulous summary of the finds I have made and the pathways and access to the river.
The bookcover has a photo of more than 50 of the finds concentrated on in this book, and I can say that if I do not have every one of these fragments, I do have at least a representative sample of each one.
The item that most surprised me (upper center left, just below the pipe) was a tiny item in the shape of a canoe paddle riddled with holes. It reminded me of one of the coffee stirrers McDonalds gave out in the 1970's. I was amazed to learn that it was part of a bone toothbrush, without the bristles.
Some items the author never included were teeth and bones (of which there were many), rocks made of solid chalk (for many years I would take a stack of these back to the hotel where I would dry them out and then take them to my classroom where I would use them on the blackboard - much softer and better than school provided chalk. I even have many the size of small footballs that I have on display. Most though, I called "fingerlings," like the potatoes, as they were the easiest with which to write on the blackboard.
He also never mentioned coins. Understandable, as in my at the very least 100 trips to the river, I never found a single one.
I know from my reading that anything found underground is the property of the Queen and must be reported to the Coroner's Office. All the finds mentioned above, however, are sitting right on top of the ground, sand, beach, so the only things that must be reported are any of historical significance.
Because of the rapid tide, I could go to the same spots every day for ten days and find different things every day.
May 16, 2020
It is quite a fascinating hobby, mudlarking. One goes down on one's knees through the mud to search for lost history items. I first encounter the activity in Lockwood and co. series by Jonathan Stroud, where Lockwood has a friend who lives by the Thames and looks for items in the mud to sell for a living. Later, I found Nicola White mudlark's Youtube channel and saw this book in one of her videos and it had been on my radar ever since. I learned quite a lot about the activity and the treasure that could be found from the Thames, with explanations and pictures of them. One positive thing I could say about the writing is that it's not dry at all (as I was afraid it to be) for someone who knew a little to nothing about the subject. The activity itself has its own appeal which some people will find it interesting while others feel like nothing comes out of it. Give an opportunity to be in London and do it, I'm all in! Tho I doubt that would ever happen, so for now, let's watch the shared videos on the streaming site.
May 20, 2017
this was fascinating. the amount of history that one can pick up off the banks of the thames! i wanna go there lol
September 5, 2021
Reading this book is enriching me. We are in lockdown here in Sydney and can only go out within a 5k radius. Ted Sandling has inspired me to try mudlarking at a tiny Sydney Harbour beach down the road from my house. I don’t have to wear gloves, or protective gumboots, just flip-flops — we call them thongs. The water's not foul, the beach is sandy. On the first day I found a patterned ceramic fragment, complete with craquelature, worth framing or turning into a piece of jewellery. But instead I intend to keep it as it is. I found others that day, and every other day since I have found tiny, priceless treasures that connect me to the history of Australia since it was invaded back in 1788. The odd oyster shell I also pick up — one with a hole so I can string it together with others — may well have been held by a First Australian, before or just after that fateful day the First Fleet arrived full of convicts. The day we still call, shamefully, “Australia Day”. Just as Ted Sandling’s wonderful book tells me so much about London (I was born over there in Liverpool) what I find at low tide down the road tells me, every time I go there, more and more about Australia. I can recommend this book to anyone whose curiosity is best stirred not stifled.
August 3, 2020
I really enjoyed this and learnt a lot about the history of London. I am looking forward to getting my permit so I can mudlark.
June 2, 2021
Who wouldn't be tickled to find treasure the Thames has left behind, along with layer upon layer of history and stories? Man, if they could talk. The author defines mudlarking and explains guidelines and etiquette. He also details his own wondrous experiences and finds, including his favourite.
Hundreds of years ago, the original mudlarkers searched for anything they could sell to make a bit of money. Now scouring is for pleasure and, I'm sure, can be a personal challenge. Tides amazingly can bring in Bronze Age swords and skulls, posy rings, pottery and coins. What can be learned from these finds is incredible! The author says he loves broken fragments...and I can understand that. Where else can you find a nineteenth century smoking pipe, bone toothbrush, delftware and a fossilized sea urchin in one day? In their time they may have been everyday objects but laden with meaning and mystique to us now.
This book is chock full of fascinating information from thrilling history about what was created when and how these objects impacted the world (the London Poor during Charles Dickens' time, Silk Road, chocolate making, Portuguese voyages, wine making) and personal anecdotes. I learned about the raspberry prunt, torpedo bottle, glass cullet, peruke, bisque dolls and porringers and the significance of brass pins. The explanation of sea glass is intriguing...my assumption was incorrect!
"Finding is a hunger." Yes! When we find treasures we tend to let our imaginations run. A fragment of pottery is surely a Roman urn and a glimmering stone must be a precious gem. The author's enthusiasm really captivated me. If you are enthralled by history and the unexpected, read this book! The only drawback is that my copy had no photos to correspond with the descriptions. I researched what I didn't know as I am a visual person.
My sincere thank you to Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this absorbing book!
Hundreds of years ago, the original mudlarkers searched for anything they could sell to make a bit of money. Now scouring is for pleasure and, I'm sure, can be a personal challenge. Tides amazingly can bring in Bronze Age swords and skulls, posy rings, pottery and coins. What can be learned from these finds is incredible! The author says he loves broken fragments...and I can understand that. Where else can you find a nineteenth century smoking pipe, bone toothbrush, delftware and a fossilized sea urchin in one day? In their time they may have been everyday objects but laden with meaning and mystique to us now.
This book is chock full of fascinating information from thrilling history about what was created when and how these objects impacted the world (the London Poor during Charles Dickens' time, Silk Road, chocolate making, Portuguese voyages, wine making) and personal anecdotes. I learned about the raspberry prunt, torpedo bottle, glass cullet, peruke, bisque dolls and porringers and the significance of brass pins. The explanation of sea glass is intriguing...my assumption was incorrect!
"Finding is a hunger." Yes! When we find treasures we tend to let our imaginations run. A fragment of pottery is surely a Roman urn and a glimmering stone must be a precious gem. The author's enthusiasm really captivated me. If you are enthralled by history and the unexpected, read this book! The only drawback is that my copy had no photos to correspond with the descriptions. I researched what I didn't know as I am a visual person.
My sincere thank you to Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this absorbing book!
June 1, 2021
What I think of as mudlarking finds would be ships nails, bits of pottery, tile, and glass, and the general detritus of centuries of life on and around the Thames. I wouldn't think of chunks of the previous Houses of Parliament so big you wouldn't get them on a plane as hand-luggage. Our author has, or has had, them all, and this book is a look at all the finds he's cared to mention for their snippet of history they provide. It's a format that will be all-too familiar to people who remember the likes of Neil McGregor's "A History of the World in 100 Objects", which had the same intent of providing an all-encompassing look at the title subject through building up snapshots from things of interest.
This is exactly the same, mind, except I have to take it on advisement there will be said snapshots – my copy was without any illustrations whatsoever. All I got was a short paragraph of description, and a couple of hundred words regarding each object's finding and what it would have been when new. The text is fine, but I do not pretend to know why the illustrations were not ready. Separate sections, such as the social history of the smoker's pipe, are fine without, and the end product may look amazing, but I have to report what I felt on finding plain text. And I was left with some fascinating incidental trivia that provided the flourishes here – such as the man behind Schweppes' name being a watchmaker of all things; the leftie politicking was much less appealing.
This is exactly the same, mind, except I have to take it on advisement there will be said snapshots – my copy was without any illustrations whatsoever. All I got was a short paragraph of description, and a couple of hundred words regarding each object's finding and what it would have been when new. The text is fine, but I do not pretend to know why the illustrations were not ready. Separate sections, such as the social history of the smoker's pipe, are fine without, and the end product may look amazing, but I have to report what I felt on finding plain text. And I was left with some fascinating incidental trivia that provided the flourishes here – such as the man behind Schweppes' name being a watchmaker of all things; the leftie politicking was much less appealing.
August 8, 2021
I read quite a bit of historical fiction set in London. Mudlarks are mentioned quite a bit so I knew it was a name for those treasure seekers along the Thames.
Around the 18th and 19th centuries, they were young boys trying to make a living with the things they found along and in the Thames. Today's treasure hunters are still there looking for treasures from the past and there are plenty to be found.
This is the story of one man’s finds. And they are extraordinary! Roman tiles, pottery, coins, pipes, and my favorite, the Frozen Charlotte dolls. Yes, they are a bit creepy, but I am fascinated with them.
Looking at the pictures you can almost see the history of London. Who was ruling, who was at war with them? What people wore, common items they used. It’s all a mystery and a treasure hunt.
I loved this little book and passed it along to several historical fiction authors.
Of course here in the USA, we don’t have a river Thames to hunt for treasure, but I was fortunate to live in the south and when my father built his fishing and hunting camp on the banks of the Mississippi, we found out it had been the site of a huge antebellum house which caught fire only weeks after the family moved in. It burned to the ground and was never rebuilt, so with every rain we dug up more treasure. Beautiful pieces of china and pottery. Everyday items and lots of buttons. It instilled in me a lifelong love of treasure hunting.
I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.
Around the 18th and 19th centuries, they were young boys trying to make a living with the things they found along and in the Thames. Today's treasure hunters are still there looking for treasures from the past and there are plenty to be found.
This is the story of one man’s finds. And they are extraordinary! Roman tiles, pottery, coins, pipes, and my favorite, the Frozen Charlotte dolls. Yes, they are a bit creepy, but I am fascinated with them.
Looking at the pictures you can almost see the history of London. Who was ruling, who was at war with them? What people wore, common items they used. It’s all a mystery and a treasure hunt.
I loved this little book and passed it along to several historical fiction authors.
Of course here in the USA, we don’t have a river Thames to hunt for treasure, but I was fortunate to live in the south and when my father built his fishing and hunting camp on the banks of the Mississippi, we found out it had been the site of a huge antebellum house which caught fire only weeks after the family moved in. It burned to the ground and was never rebuilt, so with every rain we dug up more treasure. Beautiful pieces of china and pottery. Everyday items and lots of buttons. It instilled in me a lifelong love of treasure hunting.
I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.
July 19, 2021
"A Mudlark's Treasures" is about the types of things that can be found on the banks of the Thames, specifically the finds that the author has made. These objects span a long period of time, from before the founding of London to nearly present day. He focused on historical objects. After an introduction describing what mudlarking was in the past and is in the present, he talked about his finds. He put them in groupings of similar types. He briefly described the object found and then gave about a page and a half of information about it and when it was made. The only pictures were those on the cover, and they were small and not very high definition. Numbers labeled what they were and when they were made, and these were later described in the book. However, these were only about half of the total finds that he talked about. Part of the reason I got the book was because I was interested in actually seeing what these objects look like (even in a broken state), so I was disappointed. However, I did enjoy learning the history behind these objects.
I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through Amazon Vine.
I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through Amazon Vine.
June 3, 2021
Thank you to the publishers, Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion, for giving me access to this book as an E-ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
I found out about mudlarking about two years ago thanks to the YouTube algorithm and I frequently watch mudlarking videos today.
I found Sandling's little book to be quite charming but not as gripping.. maybe because I didn't have the pictures I'm guessing will be/are in the published, physical copy and only from previous knowledge of how certain items look (because of YouTube) I could paint a picture before me. What I enjoyed was Sandling's obvious love for his hobby, and that he really enjoys being on the foreshore finding small pieces of history. As someone who works in a historical building I am familiar with the feeling of a sort-of remembrance - a knowing that people has walked the same floors as I do over the past 700 years.
However, I perhaps, wasn't as entertained by this as I thought I would, therefore the three star rating.
I found out about mudlarking about two years ago thanks to the YouTube algorithm and I frequently watch mudlarking videos today.
I found Sandling's little book to be quite charming but not as gripping.. maybe because I didn't have the pictures I'm guessing will be/are in the published, physical copy and only from previous knowledge of how certain items look (because of YouTube) I could paint a picture before me. What I enjoyed was Sandling's obvious love for his hobby, and that he really enjoys being on the foreshore finding small pieces of history. As someone who works in a historical building I am familiar with the feeling of a sort-of remembrance - a knowing that people has walked the same floors as I do over the past 700 years.
However, I perhaps, wasn't as entertained by this as I thought I would, therefore the three star rating.
August 26, 2021
Mudlarking has been a "thing" for centuries, from Victorian era children looking for scrap metal to sell straight up until the modern day, with amateur archaeologists looking for treasures great and small ... all along the banks of the Thames River.
Author Ted Sandling is a veteran mudlark; his finds range from the ubiquitous clay pipe stems to ancient Roman glass, and nearly everything in between. Sandling shows us London's history through these bits and pieces of items discarded by long-ago inhabitants.
Sandling's authorial voice is educational without being pedantic; the reader finds themselves nodding in understanding as they learn about how drinking vessels were designed for use in a time when cutlery was rare, or how toothpaste and toothbrushes came to be. We get insight into daily life for Londoners across the centuries, just because of the scraps Sandling has found.
Entertaining, and highly recommended.
Author Ted Sandling is a veteran mudlark; his finds range from the ubiquitous clay pipe stems to ancient Roman glass, and nearly everything in between. Sandling shows us London's history through these bits and pieces of items discarded by long-ago inhabitants.
Sandling's authorial voice is educational without being pedantic; the reader finds themselves nodding in understanding as they learn about how drinking vessels were designed for use in a time when cutlery was rare, or how toothpaste and toothbrushes came to be. We get insight into daily life for Londoners across the centuries, just because of the scraps Sandling has found.
Entertaining, and highly recommended.
June 29, 2021
If you don't know, a "mudlark" is someone who searches for treasure in the Thames of London at low tide. I knew this, but I had no idea there was lots of treasure to be found even today - as long as you define "treasure" based on human interest, and not necessarily on monetary value. Sandling writes (beautifully) about the treasures he's found and it made for fascinating historical reading. He's found items from the time of the Roman Empire all the way up to WWII. The most common find - clay pipe stems. These are apparently everywhere. Even that little fact was so interesting to me - a lover of history and especially British history.
I read a free advance ebook in exchange for an honest review. My copy did not include photos, but I'm very happy to see that the final book does include photos, which will add to the experience.
I read a free advance ebook in exchange for an honest review. My copy did not include photos, but I'm very happy to see that the final book does include photos, which will add to the experience.
May 21, 2020
Was looking for another book on mudlarking, found this and was REALLY dissapointed. The writing style is simply hard to like and there's no narrative. The objects he 'discusses' (I'm at a loss to describe exactly what he does, it's just bad) aren't that interesting either. I follow mudlarks on social media and they find amazing stuff, this guy hasn't found much at all! If you're looking for a book on mudlarking or the Thames don't bother with this one.
October 16, 2017
There has been some confusion over the authorship of this book.
Please note, it has absolutely nothing to do with London.Mudlark on Instagram or London Mudlark on Facebook, which began in 2012.
You can find the original London Mudlark here:
www.facebook.com/LondonMudlark/
www.instagram.com/london.mudlark
Please note, it has absolutely nothing to do with London.Mudlark on Instagram or London Mudlark on Facebook, which began in 2012.
You can find the original London Mudlark here:
www.facebook.com/LondonMudlark/
www.instagram.com/london.mudlark
February 6, 2017
A British variation to the dumpster diving. After reading it, I still felt uninterested.
May 9, 2017
I found this book pretentious and inaccurate. I didn't enjoy it, sorry.
November 14, 2025
I don't think I've ever enjoyed a non fiction book so much.
I'm not knowledgeable at all on the history of London so there was a lot of new and really interesting information (including a sentence or two on the ice ages). Because of that lack of historical knowledge I did get lost at times as I think it was assumed the reader has some basic knowledge of history, literature and art which I do not but it encouraged me to do a bit of further googling on things that interested me.
I liked the inclusion of references to other books that talk about mudlarking or have characters who are mudlarkers. The author explains the history of what is now a hobby but was once a means of income for the very poor. I felt he gave a beautiful view on London's history, fond but realistic and not over romanticizing the difficult parts.
Some favourite quotes:
"Merriment is only truly merriment when it flirts with the gutter"
"The past truly is a foreign country"
"When all humanity before us has been swept away, forgotten, their names said for the last time many ages ago, when even bones are lost, what remains of people are their buttons."
I loved the part talking about how holding found objects link you to a person from the past and it being a form of "ancestor worship". I thought it a beautiful way to describe it.
I had hoped for a bit more detail about the discovery of each find - where it was found, who else was there, how buried in the mud it was. But the final chapter gave a beautiful encouragement for people to start their own mudlarking journey. I will definitely be heading to the Thames at low tide the next time I'm in London.
I'm not knowledgeable at all on the history of London so there was a lot of new and really interesting information (including a sentence or two on the ice ages). Because of that lack of historical knowledge I did get lost at times as I think it was assumed the reader has some basic knowledge of history, literature and art which I do not but it encouraged me to do a bit of further googling on things that interested me.
I liked the inclusion of references to other books that talk about mudlarking or have characters who are mudlarkers. The author explains the history of what is now a hobby but was once a means of income for the very poor. I felt he gave a beautiful view on London's history, fond but realistic and not over romanticizing the difficult parts.
Some favourite quotes:
"Merriment is only truly merriment when it flirts with the gutter"
"The past truly is a foreign country"
"When all humanity before us has been swept away, forgotten, their names said for the last time many ages ago, when even bones are lost, what remains of people are their buttons."
I loved the part talking about how holding found objects link you to a person from the past and it being a form of "ancestor worship". I thought it a beautiful way to describe it.
I had hoped for a bit more detail about the discovery of each find - where it was found, who else was there, how buried in the mud it was. But the final chapter gave a beautiful encouragement for people to start their own mudlarking journey. I will definitely be heading to the Thames at low tide the next time I'm in London.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2020
So while I enjoyed it, for various reasons, it wasn't really a book I expected, somehow.
I do enjoy a good afternoon spent beachcombing (the sea version of mudlarking). I usually look for sea glass, pottery pieces and anything nice and small. I don't have much, but I have a little goblin collection that I'm very proud of.
For some reason, I expected this book to be a bit less factual and more reflective, maybe a bit lyrical. It did shine through every now and then and those were the parts I really enjoyed, but oftentimes, it would just go through the various finds and describe their history. Which is very nice, but I also feel like if you weren't the one who found them, it feels a little underwhelming. Just me? Alright.
Still, I'm very happy I read it and I also learned a few new things. Especially about the whole Portable Antiquities Scheme. I had no idea that there was a way of officially logging your finds. I tried to search for one in Ireland (I do have a couple pieces that could be identifiable), but no chance.
Definitely do read this if something about finding tiny fragments of history in a river makes your little heart flutter, just like mine.
I do enjoy a good afternoon spent beachcombing (the sea version of mudlarking). I usually look for sea glass, pottery pieces and anything nice and small. I don't have much, but I have a little goblin collection that I'm very proud of.
For some reason, I expected this book to be a bit less factual and more reflective, maybe a bit lyrical. It did shine through every now and then and those were the parts I really enjoyed, but oftentimes, it would just go through the various finds and describe their history. Which is very nice, but I also feel like if you weren't the one who found them, it feels a little underwhelming. Just me? Alright.
Still, I'm very happy I read it and I also learned a few new things. Especially about the whole Portable Antiquities Scheme. I had no idea that there was a way of officially logging your finds. I tried to search for one in Ireland (I do have a couple pieces that could be identifiable), but no chance.
Definitely do read this if something about finding tiny fragments of history in a river makes your little heart flutter, just like mine.
July 9, 2021
*3.5 stars*
Unexpected city beachcombing…
I was intrigued by the blurb of this book. Beachcombing is not a new concept for me, I live on a coast after all. The idea of scouring the sand for treasure in a metropolis like London though – that caught my attention. And it was intriguing. Finding shards of pottery and items from centuries ago, from Roman times, from the Georgian era. From a way to earn money over the years, it now is a hobby, a light into ways of life long gone. Intriguing topic, interesting book.
*I happily reviewed this book
**Thank you to NetGalley
Unexpected city beachcombing…
I was intrigued by the blurb of this book. Beachcombing is not a new concept for me, I live on a coast after all. The idea of scouring the sand for treasure in a metropolis like London though – that caught my attention. And it was intriguing. Finding shards of pottery and items from centuries ago, from Roman times, from the Georgian era. From a way to earn money over the years, it now is a hobby, a light into ways of life long gone. Intriguing topic, interesting book.
*I happily reviewed this book
**Thank you to NetGalley
July 17, 2021
Oh my gosh! This book made me want to go mudlarking IMMEDIATELY. But I had to wait a year, and finally went. Got my permit from the Thames Police. Got my wellies on, and spent two glorious days finding bits and this ‘n’ that in the river. Because of this book, I was able to identify things and felt I was in good company. There are illustrations aplenty, and overall it’s just a wonderful introduction to urban archaeology. Oh I wish I could go again soon, but alas, I am thousands of miles away . . .
September 24, 2021
The unadulterated glee Ted Sandling expresses in this book is infectious. A curated collection of his finds while "mudlarking" in low tide on the banks of the Thames, Sandling's experience and skills as an art historian and designer are in full flight. If you have any interest in antiques, the history of London, social history in general, looking at beautiful things or finding the mundane transformed into the beautiful by the passage of time, this book will delight you. A true treasure. It makes you realise how much wonder can be found in the smallest of things.
February 8, 2021
There are aspects of this book that are quite annoying. The categorisation is entirely abstract and makes little sense, some of the dating is a little iffy and the author occasionally gets sidetracked into some woke political rant of little relevance. It is a nice coffee table book and interesting to a point, but one can't help but feel it could have been much better were it written by someone with a deeper historical understanding who was, frankly, less of a tit.
July 6, 2021
The most remarkable thing about this book was the fact it had no images to accompany the text.
I was expecting this to be similar to Lara Maiklem's book about Mudlarking, and so was a little disappointed. I didn't much enjoy the way it was laid out, or the discussion of the finds - mostly pottery. It was also very repetitive in places. The afterword by Iain Sinclair was easily the best part of the book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
I was expecting this to be similar to Lara Maiklem's book about Mudlarking, and so was a little disappointed. I didn't much enjoy the way it was laid out, or the discussion of the finds - mostly pottery. It was also very repetitive in places. The afterword by Iain Sinclair was easily the best part of the book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
January 19, 2024
Slightly underwhelmed by this book. I am fascinated by mud larking and the treasures waiting to be uncovered on the Thames foreshore. However, I found this book only skimmed the surface of the objects found and focused more on the history behind the objects. The author is very articulate but I found myself bored by the way he presented the history and itching to read more about the objects he found, where he found them and then a brief explanation of the object.
March 16, 2018
If you love antiques, and the thrill of the hunt, you will love this book. If you love history and learning history through objects, you will love this book. Filled with copious color photos and tiny stories attached to each one and charming drawings accompanying each and every chapter as well as the inside covers, it earns a high mark. I fell in love with this book.
June 4, 2018
This book does what it says on the can, presenting a history of London through objects found by the author at a variety of locations on the Thames foreshore from oyster shells to clay pipes, stone age flints and bones to ceramics. Both enjoyable and informative with photographs of every find discussed, this is a book to read or just dip into.
August 8, 2018
Katie gave me this at the weekend, a belated birthday gift. We've been mudlarking a couple of times and obviously it is my BEST THING.
This is a very beautiful book with excellent photos of things the author has rescued from the Thames foreshore, with an explanation of what they are and their significance in terms of the history of London and indeed the world.
This is a very beautiful book with excellent photos of things the author has rescued from the Thames foreshore, with an explanation of what they are and their significance in terms of the history of London and indeed the world.
January 29, 2019
A refreshing look at life through the found objects of a modern day mudlark. Made me wish for a bucket and immediate access to the foreshore and is excellent fodder for all fans of rivers and Thames in particular. Wonderful photographs throughout.
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