Mudlark’d: Hidden Histories from the River Thames

by Malcolm Russell

A captivating history of London as told through objects recovered from the muddy banks of the Thames and the lives of the people who owned them



Mudlark'd combines insights from two hundred rare objects discovered on the foreshore of the River Thames with a wealth of breathtaking illustrations to uncover the hidden histories of ordinary people from prehistory to today. Malcolm Russell tells the stories behind each find, revealing the habits, customs, and artistry of the people who created and used it.

In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, London was the busiest port in the world, exchanging goods and ideas with people from every continent. The shores of the Thames have long been densely packed with taverns, brothels, and markets, and the river's muddy banks are a repository of intriguing and precious objects that evoke long-forgotten ways of life. With Russell as your guide, a bottleneck of a jug is shown to be a talisman to counter the ill effects of witchcraft. Glass beads expose the brutal realities of the transatlantic slave trade. Clay tobacco pipes uncover the lives of Victorian magicians. A scrap of Tudor cloth illuminates the experiences of Dutch and French religious refugees.

These are just some of the stories told in Mudlark'd, which also contains a primer, giving advice on how to mudlark on tidal rivers around the world and outlining the tools and equipment you will need.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, British Literature

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 10, 2022

Reviews

[MaryannC Victorian Dreamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an awesome trek though history about the Great Thames via mudlarking! From ancient roman wine vessels to buttons and Dutch tiles these items have been found in or on the shores of one of the greatest shipping channels in history. The book contains beautiful detailed pictures of these treasures many found by the author himself and also explanations of what each item was used for during it's time. I would love to head to the Thames right now, don a pair of boots and see what wonderful gems are awaiting me! Recommended for History lovers.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book with a brilliantly readable approach to social history. I love the way the stories flow from the finds from the Thames foreshore and the the level of research that has gone into each object.

The format is so good. I learnt a lot about my city from prehistory to COVID. Great stories, shining a light on the brilliantly diverse people of London from ornatrices to macaronis to cunning folk to gin drinkers, cross dressers, sex workers and forgotten heroes. Loved it.

[Barrowsend · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of London and London lives told through objects washed up on the Thames foreshore. It' a fascinating journey, engagingly told. I seldom notice the feel of a book, most are just 'meh', but with Mudlark'd there is no missing it. It contains a wealth of colour images all laid out beautifully on quality paper. It's the prefect gift for history lovers.

[Mitch Karunaratne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I’d dip in to this book but once I started I was so absorbed I read it cover to cover! It’s a wonderful mix of micro histories- stories of ordinary people doing ordinary things- placing the context of London and Londoners into world events, alongside really beautiful images of treasures found along the rivers foreshore.

[Amy Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though it looks like a coffee table book, I read it cover to cover. It's a well-organised volume, touching on little bits of history as represented by the gorgeously photographed finds.
I have to admit that I was hoping for a little more practical advice in the final section of tips on mudlarking: it was mainly about the license, registering finds and other things I could have Googled for; but then that section wasn't the point of the book.
It's definitely a beautiful book to keep, display and refer back to from time to time.

[Andrea Engle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phenomenal color illustrations well-laid out make this a very attractive account of mudlarking, scavenging the muddy banks of the Thames at low tide … from rings and cuff-links to buttons and bottles, these finds outline the history of London from Roman times to the Present … eye-opening …

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fascinating and delightful book contains glimpses into the authentic history of London told through objects found while mudlarking the River Thames.

[Bookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic photos and other illustrations accompany the fascinating history of treasure-seeking along the muddy banks of the Thames.

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book.

[Marilyn Gardner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting coffee table/dip into book. Lots of ancillary history facts that lift this book above the ordinary.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely gorgeous book of essays and photographs of deitrius found on the Thames foreshore in London by mudlarkers. A fascinating look at the day-to-day lives of Londoners throughout its history.

[John Francy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very notable book with interesting historical vignettes. Easy to read and well documented with pictures. The historical context of all finds is well done.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely and well organized. A well done book

[AmyH · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredibly interesting book that's a bit different from the usual mudlarking fare.

Malcolm Russell has chosen to step away from the usual ID guide for coins, pottery, tobacco pipes etc (though there is a little of that to be found), instead using items as a jumping off point for chapters on the social history of overlooked groups. There's a wonderfully diverse and fascinating array, from Victorian parachutists to female fascists, witches to Indian seamen, slaves to Blitz firefighters.

The chapters are supplemented by gorgeous images, both of the finds as well as museum artefacts, paintings and pamphlets. Having seen a few other mudlarking books with no or subpar images it makes a change to be able to properly see the items in question.

Russell also has an eye for an entertaining anecdote, such as a colonel who supposedly killed himself due to the amount of time it took to do up all of his buttons, or gamesters with brilliant names such as The Mathematician, Captain Whimper, The Black Dwarf and The Calculator. The most bizarre has to be about travelling troupes who turned tooth extraction into entertainment by pulling teeth with one hand, firing a pistol with the other all whilst with their head in a sack, also flamboyantly named, such as Le Grande Thomas, also known as 'the terror of the human jaw'.

As you'd expect for a history book which looks at marginalised groups many of the stories are quite moving which Russell handles sensitively, but maybe giving too much leeway to his subjects at times. In the section on musicians he talks about the 'high and low status enjoyed by musicians - bringers of pleasure who have studied throughout history to establish their respectability', but the example he gives is a man on trial for murder, which seems a reasonable reason for someone to be seen as 'low status'!

[C · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting pictures of the river finds and some interesting history of London's past. However, a very marked focus on some of the worst of human behavior left a bad taste. Was glad I got a library copy instead of buying.