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Mudlark

A mudlark is a person who scavenges the muddy foreshore of rivers, particularly the River Thames in London, for items of value such as coal, iron, old ropes, and nails, often as a means of survival among the poor and destitute.^[1]^[2] The term, first recorded in the early 19th century, originally described street urchins and laborers who worked at low tide to collect sellable scraps from the riverbed, enduring harsh conditions to eke out a living.^[3]^[1] Historically, mudlarking emerged in the 18th and 19th centuries amid London's rapid industrialization and poverty, when the Thames served as both a vital trade artery and a dumping ground for waste.^[2] Social reformer Henry Mayhew documented the practice in his 1851 work London Labour and the London Poor, describing mudlarks as "compelled from utter destitution to seek for the means of appeasing their hunger in the mud of the river," often children and the elderly who sold their finds to support themselves.^[2]^[3] These scavengers contributed to the urban economy by recycling materials, but the activity was unregulated and dangerous, exposing participants to disease, drowning risks, and toxic sewage during events like the Great Stink of 1858.^[2] In the modern era, mudlarking has evolved from a necessity into a popular hobby and form of amateur archaeology, with enthusiasts—now called mudlarks—searching for historical artifacts exposed by the Thames' tides.^[3]^[2] Today, participants require an annual Thames Foreshore Permit from the Port of London Authority, limited to 4,000 issued each year, and must report significant finds, such as objects over 300 years old, to the Museum of London or the Portable Antiquities Scheme.^[2]^[3] Notable discoveries include Bronze Age swords, Roman jewels, medieval toys, and over 250 ancient human skeletal remains, enriching London's archaeological record and highlighting the river's 2,000-year span of human activity.^[2]^[3] Modern mudlarks use tools like trowels and metal detectors, often sharing their finds through museum acquisitions or public exhibitions, transforming the foreshore into a key site for preserving the city's hidden history.^[3] The term "mudlark" can also refer secondarily to certain birds that inhabit muddy areas, such as the Australian magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca), known for building mud nests, or dialectal names for pipits and meadowlarks in English contexts.^[1] However, its primary and most culturally significant usage remains tied to the Thames scavenging tradition.^[1]

Definition and Etymology

Definition

A mudlark is an individual who scavenges the banks and foreshores of rivers, particularly tidal areas such as the River Thames, in search of lost or discarded items of value, which can range from everyday objects like scrap metal and coal to historical artifacts including pottery and jewelry.^[2]^[4] Historically, mudlarking emerged as a poverty-driven occupation where individuals foraged in river mud out of necessity to sustain themselves by selling found items, whereas in modern times it has evolved into a recreational hobby pursued by enthusiasts seeking personal connection to the past.^[2]^[4] The practice is characterized by its reliance on low-tide conditions that expose mudflats and riverbeds, allowing searchers to manually probe the sediment using basic tools like trowels or simply their hands, with finds occurring opportunistically amid layers of silt that preserve objects over time.^[2]^[4] Unlike professional archaeology, which involves systematic excavation, documentation, and scientific analysis conducted by trained experts, mudlarking remains an informal and personal activity driven by individual curiosity rather than structured research.^[4]

Etymology

The term "mudlark" originated as a compound in English, combining "mud" (referring to the sediment of riverbanks) with "lark" (denoting a playful or frolicsome activity, akin to "skylark").^[5] The Oxford English Dictionary records its earliest known use in 1783, in the writings of J. Williamson, within a London context that evoked childlike scavenging amid muddy foreshores.^[5] Initially, "mudlark" carried a derogatory connotation, applied to destitute children and adults eking out a living by rummaging through river mud for scraps.^[4] From the late 18th century, it had also been used informally for a pig rooting in mud, reflecting a slang extension of the playful imagery.^[6] Over time, the term's semantics evolved from this pejorative sense of poverty-driven desperation to a neutral label for contemporary hobbyists who explore tidal zones for historical artifacts, shedding its class-based stigma.^[4] Etymologically, "mudlark" differs from related scavenging terms like "tosher," which denotes sewer hunters and first appeared in 1851 with an unclear origin, possibly linked to 19th-century thieves' cant for valuables like copper.^[7] Unlike the transparent compounding of "mudlark," "tosher" lacks a definitive breakdown, though both terms highlight distinct yet overlapping urban foraging practices.^[7]

Historical Mudlarking

Origins and Early Practice

Mudlarking originated as an informal form of scavenging along the tidal foreshores of the River Thames in London, with roots traceable to the 18th century amid the city's rapid urbanization. As London's population expanded from approximately 200,000 in the early 1600s to over 500,000 by the end of the century, driven by trade and migration, the Thames became a primary conduit for waste disposal, receiving household refuse, industrial byproducts, and lost goods from bustling wharves and docks. This accumulation of debris in the river's mud created opportunities for opportunistic collection, as the exposed foreshore at low tide revealed layers of discarded materials preserved in the anaerobic sediment.^[8]^[9]^[10] The practice emerged primarily as a socioeconomic response to widespread poverty in the burgeoning urban environment, where vagrants, casual laborers, and the destitute turned to the riverbanks to supplement meager incomes. In an era of economic disparity, with significant portions of the population living in overcrowded conditions near the Thames, scavenging provided a means of survival by recovering salvageable items from the mud. Early practitioners, often marginalized individuals without steady employment, targeted the foreshore as a readily accessible resource, reflecting broader patterns of informal economies in early modern cities. Although the specific term "mudlark" emerged in the late 18th century, informal scavenging along the foreshore predates it.^[11]^[12]^[13] Initial methods were rudimentary, relying on manual labor during the brief windows of low tide when mudflats were exposed. Scavengers used their hands or simple tools to dig and sift through the sediment, seeking out items such as coal fragments, metal nails, and pottery shards that could be resold to merchants or used domestically. These activities were opportunistic and localized, concentrated around areas of heavy river traffic like the wharves established by the early 17th century.^[14]^[9] In its nascent phase, mudlarking operated without formal regulation, regarded more as a desperate survival strategy than a structured trade, with no specific bylaws governing access to the foreshore until the 19th century. The term "mudlark" itself first appeared in the late 18th century to describe these riverbank foragers.^[11]^[13]

18th and 19th Centuries

During the 18th and 19th centuries, mudlarking reached its peak as a desperate occupation for the impoverished in Victorian London, particularly along the Thames foreshore where rapid industrialization and urban growth exacerbated poverty. Practitioners were primarily children aged 8 to 15, though the trade also involved elderly men, women, and girls driven by extreme destitution; boys often worked independently or in small groups, scavenging at low tide to supplement family incomes amid widespread unemployment and low wages in factories.^[15]^[13] This unregulated activity, evolving from earlier informal scavenging, allowed the destitute a measure of autonomy compared to the regimented drudgery of factory labor, though it offered little security or advancement.^[16] The conditions were harrowing, with mudlarks wading through ankle- to knee-deep, foul-smelling Thames mud contaminated by sewage, industrial waste, and refuse from ships and sewers, exposing them to constant health risks such as infections from cuts caused by sharp glass, nails, or debris. Women and elderly practitioners, often bent double from age or infirmity, faced particular vulnerability during winter when cold exacerbated the misery, while children like a 10-year-old boy described by Henry Mayhew endured hunger and exposure, sometimes attending ragged schools sporadically between tides.^[15]^[13] Risks extended beyond physical injury to potential drowning in rising tides or encounters with rats in sewer outflows, yet the work persisted as a vital, if perilous, means of survival for an estimated 400 individuals along the river, according to Henry Mayhew.^[15] Daily finds included scraps of coal, old iron, rope, bones, copper nails, and occasional wood or tools, which mudlarks collected in baskets or hats and sold to neighbors, rag-and-bone men, or marine stores for meager earnings averaging 3d to 6d per day for children, though skilled finders might reach 8d or occasionally 1s on good tides. A 13-year-old mudlark interviewed by Mayhew in 1861, working near Millwall, detailed his routine: starting at 6 a.m., sifting mud for coal (sold at 1d per pot to locals) or iron (1d to 3d daily), while avoiding Thames police who enforced laws against taking ship scraps; his diet was sparse—bread for breakfast, no supper—and clothing ragged, bought second-hand for pennies.^[17]^[13] These low yields underscored the trade's role as a last resort for the poor, contrasting sharply with the era's growing wealth from trade and empire.^[15] Henry Mayhew's London Labour and the London Poor (1851, expanded 1861) provides the era's most vivid documentation through firsthand interviews, capturing the human toll; for instance, Mayhew's account of the 13-year-old's hardships—chased by police, sleeping in sheds, and aspiring to seafaring—highlights the blend of resilience and despair among mudlarks, whose collective annual earnings he estimated at approximately £6,000 despite individual penury.^[16]^[17] This independent scavenging offered fleeting dignity to the marginalized, enabling some, like Mayhew's young informant who later secured printer's work, to escape the cycle, though most remained trapped in poverty's grip.^[15]

Decline and Transition to the 20th Century

The decline of mudlarking as a viable occupation began in the late 19th century, primarily due to sweeping improvements in London's sanitation infrastructure. The construction of the Victoria Embankment, engineered by Joseph Bazalgette and completed between 1865 and 1870 under the Metropolitan Board of Works, represented a pivotal shift. This project, part of a broader sewerage system initiated after the Great Stink of 1858, narrowed the Thames by reclaiming over 52 acres of foreshore land and diverted sewage through underground pipes, drastically reducing the volume of waste and debris deposited on the riverbanks. Previously, the expansive, filth-laden mudflats had been prime scavenging grounds for mudlarks seeking coal, iron, and other sellable items; the embankments' completion minimized these "unhealthy muddy reaches," limiting access and yields while curbing disease outbreaks that had long plagued the activity.^[18]^[13] Concurrently, social reforms alleviated the extreme poverty that had driven many, especially children, into mudlarking for survival. The Elementary Education Act of 1870 introduced compulsory schooling for children aged 5 to 10, effectively curtailing child labor on the foreshore by requiring attendance and imposing fines on non-compliant families. This was bolstered by early 20th-century welfare measures, such as the Old Age Pensions Act of 1908, which provided modest support to the elderly poor, reducing reliance on sporadic scavenging income. These changes transformed mudlarking from a desperate economic necessity—often undertaken in harsh, barefoot conditions amid sewage and sharp hazards—into a less essential pursuit, as improved living standards and education opportunities drew participants away from the river. Stricter legal enforcement further eroded mudlarking's status as a profession. By 1904, scavenging on the Thames foreshore was deemed an unlawful occupation under bylaws administered by the Port of London Authority, with mudlarks risking prosecution for trespass or theft of found items. A notable case that year involved Robert Harold, who claimed mudlarking as his trade but was convicted and sentenced to one month's imprisonment for possessing a gold chain unearthed from the mud, as the item could not be traced to an owner and was considered Crown property. Such rulings reflected growing regulatory oversight of the riverbed, previously a de facto commons for the destitute.^[19]^[20] By the 1930s, mudlarking had fully transitioned into a recreational or playful activity, particularly among youth. Observations from the period describe it as a summertime diversion for schoolchildren, who donned swimsuits and entreated passersby to toss coins into the shallows, scrambling to retrieve them amid the now-far-cleaner mud for pocket money or amusement. This marked a stark contrast to its earlier gritty profession, with professional mudlarks largely confined to a few elderly holdouts who scavenged sporadically but yielded diminishing returns from the sanitized Thames. The occupation's remnants persisted only in memory, underscoring broader societal progress in public health and welfare.^[21]^[22]

Modern Mudlarking

Regulations and Licensing

Mudlarking on the tidal foreshore of the River Thames falls under the regulatory oversight of the Port of London Authority (PLA), which administers permits in partnership with the Crown Estate as the primary landowners. These permits are mandatory for any form of searching, including metal detecting or digging, to ensure the protection of the sensitive archaeological environment. Since the relaunch of the foreshore permit scheme in October 2024, the PLA has limited standard permits to a maximum of 4,000 at any time to balance public access with heritage preservation. Additionally, 30 Creative Foreshore Permits are available for artistic use of finds (restricted to those over 18), and renewable permits are offered to experienced mudlarks with at least 4 years of prior experience and supporting evidence.^[23]^[24] A standard permit, costing £40 (including VAT) as of 2025, is valid for one year from the date of issue and does not auto-renew; applicants must re-register interest approximately one month prior to expiry to remain eligible. Due to high demand exceeding 10,000 registrations, the waiting list has been suspended as of November 2025; prospective mudlarks should contact [email protected] for inquiries and await an invitation to complete the formal application, requiring a UK address and unique email. Permits are available to individuals over 12 years old, with those under 16 requiring supervision by an adult permit holder, and they cover the stretch from Richmond Lock to the Thames Barrier, excluding magnet fishing and designated black zones such as the area from Cannon Street to London Bridge, which is closed from 1 November 2025 for approximately 3 months.^[23]^[24]^[25] Permit holders must comply with an updated code of conduct that prioritizes safety, sustainability, and minimal disturbance, including filling any holes created during digging, avoiding tidal hazards, and respecting wildlife and other users of the foreshore. All finds, regardless of perceived value, must be reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) for recording, which helps map London's historical landscape and is a condition for permit renewal eligibility. The PAS, managed by the British Museum, encourages voluntary documentation of non-treasure items to contribute to national archaeological knowledge.^[24]^[26] Overarching national legislation, the Treasure Act 1996, defines "treasure" as including prehistoric base-metal objects, coins over 300 years old (with exceptions for low precious metal content), and any object at least 300 years old containing at least 10% gold or silver, mandating that finders report such items to the local coroner within 14 days of discovery. Failure to report treasure constitutes a criminal offense, punishable by an unlimited fine, imprisonment for up to three months, or both.^[27]^[28]^[29] Unauthorized mudlarking on the Thames foreshore without a permit is prohibited and enforced by the PLA through measures ranging from warnings to permit revocation and court action, potentially resulting in fines for bylaw violations. For foreshores beyond the PLA's jurisdiction, the Crown Estate, which manages approximately half of England's coastal foreshore, requires separate licenses for intrusive activities like digging or metal detecting to safeguard public and environmental interests.^[30]^[31]

Practices and Techniques

Contemporary mudlarking primarily involves searching the exposed Thames foreshore during low tide, where practitioners walk along the banks, visually scanning the surface for objects, or gently hand-sifting through soft mud to uncover items without disturbing deeper layers. Small trowels or sieves are used for shallow probing, while metal detectors allow for scanning slightly buried metallic artifacts, though surface-level searching remains the core method to preserve site integrity.^[32]^[33] Essential tools and gear include sturdy waterproof boots for traversing slippery, uneven terrain; thick, disposable gloves to shield hands from hazards; buckets or collection bags for transporting finds; and smartphone apps or printed tide tables to identify safe low-tide periods, which typically provide 2 to 4 hours of accessible searching time. Heavy digging or mechanical tools are avoided to prevent damage to archaeological contexts and comply with preservation guidelines.^[32]^[33] Activities are concentrated along the Thames foreshores under PLA jurisdiction, from Richmond in the west to the Thames Barrier in the east, with the most accessible and regulated stretches between Teddington and the Thames Barrier; areas beyond the Barrier, such as the estuary, require separate permissions. For newcomers, guided tours are available through the Thames Discovery Programme, which provides training in non-invasive techniques and site monitoring as part of its community archaeology efforts.^[34]^[24] Safety considerations are critical given the dynamic environment: rapid tidal changes can trap searchers, so mudlarks must adhere strictly to tide predictions and avoid isolated or solo outings. Additional risks include unstable riverbanks prone to collapse, and exposure to contaminants like sewage, sharp debris such as glass or needles, and waterborne pathogens including those causing Weil's disease, for which protective gear and immediate medical attention for any exposure are recommended.^[33]^[32] Ethical practices emphasize responsible stewardship of the foreshore as a shared archaeological resource; mudlarks are required to record notable discoveries via the Portable Antiquities Scheme, enabling public access to data that advances historical understanding, and to report potential Treasure items—such as ancient precious metal objects—to authorities. A permit from the Port of London Authority is essential for legal participation in these activities.^[35]^[24]

Notable Finds and Discoveries

Modern mudlarkers have unearthed a variety of significant artifacts from the River Thames foreshore, spanning Roman to Victorian eras and providing tangible links to London's past. Common discoveries include Roman coins and intaglios, such as a green jasper gemstone depicting the god Sol Invictus, dating to around 1,800 years ago, which highlights Roman trade networks and elite status symbols. Medieval pins and dress accessories frequently surface, alongside rarer items like a bone memento mori bead from the 1400s–1500s, part of a rosary illustrating Christian reflections on mortality. Tudor-era jewelry, including ornate rings and headdresses, offers insights into Renaissance craftsmanship, while Victorian toys and personal items evoke everyday leisure in industrial London.^[36] One standout example is a gold signet ring engraved with the initials "TG" in reverse, likely from the late 16th century, discovered by a mudlark and declared treasure, underscoring the personal stories embedded in such heirlooms. Another notable find is a 17th-century child's pewter toy, recovered from the anaerobic mud that preserves delicate objects, revealing aspects of childhood play during the early modern period. These artifacts, often located using permitted tools like metal detectors, demonstrate how mudlarking recovers items lost to time through accidental drops or deliberate disposal.^[37]^[38] Hobbyists like Stuart Wyatt, a Finds Liaison Officer with the Museum of London, have contributed extensively through their own discoveries, such as a bone Roman hair pin, and by identifying others' finds. Group initiatives, including the Thames Discovery Programme—a community archaeology effort involving volunteers in guided surveys—have amplified these efforts, leading to the documentation of diverse objects from Roman spintriae (erotic bronze tokens) to medieval pilgrim badges.^[38]^[39]^[40] Through the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS), mudlarked items are systematically recorded, with over 10,000 Thames-related finds logged since 2000, enriching collections at institutions like the Museum of London. These records, averaging around 700 significant discoveries annually from the foreshore, illuminate trade routes, social customs, and daily life across millennia, transforming scattered artifacts into a cohesive historical narrative.^[4]^[41]

In Literature and Media

Mudlarking has been depicted in literature since the 19th century, most notably in Henry Mayhew's London Labour and the London Poor (1851), which provides a detailed account of the harsh lives of mudlarks scavenging the Thames foreshore for coal, nails, and other scraps to sell amid Victorian poverty.^[16] Mayhew's work, based on interviews with laborers, portrays mudlarks as ragged children and destitute adults enduring filthy conditions for meager earnings, highlighting themes of urban destitution and survival.^[42] These historical portrayals influenced Victorian fiction, including Charles Dickens's Our Mutual Friend (1865), where Thames scavengers like the Hexams echo mudlarks in their grim pursuit of drowned bodies and lost goods, underscoring the river's role in tales of social underclass and moral decay.^[13] In contemporary literature, mudlarking is reframed through personal narratives of exploration and historical reconnection. Lara Maiklem's Mudlarking: Lost and Found on the River Thames (2019) chronicles her two decades of foraging along the Thames, uncovering artifacts from Neolithic tools to Victorian trinkets that reveal layers of London's past, emphasizing the thrill of discovery over economic necessity. Similarly, Lisa Woollett's Rag and Bone: A Family History of What We've Thrown Away (2020) weaves mudlarking expeditions with ancestral stories of Thames shoreline scavenging, blending memoir and environmental reflection on discarded objects from Roman times to the present. Media coverage has amplified mudlarking's cultural appeal, with BBC Travel's 2020 article "The lost treasures of London's River Thames" exploring how modern mudlarks preserve history by retrieving items like woolly mammoth tusks and medieval pins from the mud, portraying it as a blend of archaeology and urban adventure.^[38] Documentaries, such as the BBC's short film on mudlarking featured in 2021 programming, depict the practice along the Thames, showcasing finds that connect viewers to centuries of human activity while navigating tidal challenges.^[43] Historical depictions often emphasize poverty and resilience, as in Mayhew's era, while modern narratives shift to wonder and serendipitous discovery, inspiring broader interest in urban exploration media and reinforcing mudlarking's enduring allure as a window into forgotten stories.^[44]

Archaeological and Historical Value

Mudlarking has significantly contributed to the understanding of London's historical layers by unearthing everyday artifacts that span from prehistoric times to the industrial era, providing insights into daily life, trade, and cultural practices that formal excavations often overlook. These finds, including Roman pottery, medieval pins, and Victorian clay pipes, illustrate the city's evolution as a bustling port and reveal patterns of consumption and discard along the Thames foreshore. For instance, over 350 mudlarked objects displayed in a 2025 exhibition at the London Museum Docklands encompass items from Bronze Age tools to 19th-century personal effects, highlighting the river's role as a preserver of mundane yet informative relics.^[9]^[45] Institutional collaborations have amplified mudlarking's archaeological impact through structured public archaeology initiatives. The Thames Discovery Programme, operated by the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA), engages community volunteers, including licensed mudlarks, in monitoring and recording foreshore sites via its Foreshore Recording and Observation Group (FROG), which documents structures and artifacts to build a comprehensive database of the Tideway's heritage.^[41]^[46] Similarly, mudlarks routinely report significant discoveries to the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS), managed by the British Museum, contributing to national records; in London alone, mudlarks have recorded over 700 finds annually, accounting for a substantial portion of the UK's reported artifacts from amateur sources.^[47] These partnerships transform individual scavenging into systematic data collection, enhancing scholarly research on urban history. While Thames mudlarking is unparalleled due to the river's tidal nature exposing vast mudflats, analogous foreshore scavenging practices occur globally, such as bottle digging at Dead Horse Bay in New York, where enthusiasts recover 19th- and 20th-century refuse from former dumps along Jamaica Bay, offering glimpses into industrial-era waste. On the non-tidal River Seine in Paris, similar artifact hunting is limited but includes occasional dredge or bank finds contributing to local archaeology, though without the systematic exposure of the Thames.^[48]^[49] Preservation challenges persist, as unregulated or unreported mudlarking risks looting and loss of contextual data, with surveys indicating that up to 80% of finds go undeclared, potentially leading to artifacts being sold online or abroad and disrupting archaeological narratives.^[50] However, when integrated with citizen science efforts like those of the Society of Thames Mudlarks and Antiquarians, which enforces reporting standards, mudlarking yields net benefits by crowdsourcing documentation of overlooked sites and preventing erosion-related destruction through timely recording.^[50] Experts from Historic England emphasize that responsible participation safeguards shared heritage, balancing the thrill of discovery with ethical stewardship.^[50]

References

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### Extracted Definition of "Mudlark"
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Mudlarks: Rescuing relics from the River Thames - London Museum
Sep 17, 2019 · The Thames Discovery Programme documents these structures, and today's mudlarks search for the artefacts recording them with the Portable ...
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London Labour and the London Poor - Broadview Press
In stock Free delivery over $65“Henry Mayhew investigated the Victorian London poor as a social scientist and wrote up his results as a journalist. The results, London Labour and the London ...
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Here's a short film about mudlarking that I did for BBC, on a very cold ...
Sep 21, 2021 · London Mudlark: Lara Maiklem Mudlarking 󱢏. Sep 21, 2021󰞋󱟠. 󰟝. Mudlarking on the Thames. Here's a short film about mudlarking that I did for ...
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Mudlarking by Lara Maiklem review – lost and found on the River ...
Aug 16, 2019 · Mudlarks are river scavengers, but Lara Maiklem is more like a time traveller. Using old maps as guides to London's former boatyards, quaysides, bridges, ...
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From tiny to titanic: Mudlarking treasures on display | London Museum
Mar 17, 2025 · The Thames unveils London's forgotten past – from tiny, weighted dice to massive parts of gun carriages. Discover medieval gambling cheats, elegant rapiers and ...
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Lucie Commans - Foragers of the Foreshore - Thames Festival Trust
I joined the Thames Discovery Programme as a FROG volunteer (Foreshore Recording and Observation Group) and completed my fieldwork training on the foreshore ...
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A Milestone for 'Amateur' Hobbyists - Roman Found | Substack
and no that wasn't as a result of the free bar — it was down to the much-needed recognition ...
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Take a tour of Dead Horse Bay, Brooklyn's hidden trove of trash and ...
Aug 28, 2018 · Dead Horse Bay was a former dump and horse rendering site, now containing horse bones, glass, and items from evicted homes, including ...
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In Search of Treasure in London's Riverine Mud - Literary Hub
Dec 11, 2019 · The best and most fruitful spots to mudlark on the Thames are those where there has been intense human activity over a long period of time and ...
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Stolen treasure in carrier bags: the dark side of mudlarking
Mar 10, 2024 · Mudlarking was the breezy term coined by the Victorians to describe hard-up Londoners picking over rock pools in search of items to salvage or sell.