Mudlarking Weekend with Hands on History

Mudlarking is the practice of searching for historical objects and artefacts in the river Thames.

These lost, forgotten and discarded objects offer a window into London’s rich history, and the muddy banks of the Thames foreshore are a treasure chest of invaluable finds.

Discover the ancestral Thames with Hands on History, a pop-up mudlarking festival held at the National Maritime Museum on 23 and 24 September.

London's mudlarks will display their favourite finds and private collections.

Discover the secrets of London's maritime past, experience Tudor artefacts recovered in front of Greenwich’s former Palace of Placentia, and share the thrill of finding a piece of history buried in the banks of the Thames.

A live programme of activity for all ages will animate the weekend, including a Storylark - your mudlarking museum tour guide, as well as a sculpture workshop, life drawing and creative discussions. For those interested in art history, a printed trail is available for visitors wishing to understand London’s maritime past through art.

A full programme of the weekend is below. All talks, workshops and tours are free but must be booked in advance on the Totally Thames Festival website.

The programme

Saturday 23 September

Display of mudlarked objects on the Great Map

Mudlark Cinema

10 - 3pm  | Lecture Theatre

A series of short films celebrating mudlarks, their finds and the ancestral Thames will play on rotation throughout the day.

Drop in table top workshops

Drop in | Great Map

‘Intention Boats’ with Remiiya Badru, artist and River Rambler. Pottery Sorting with Christine Webb.

Still life drawing workshop with Coral Pearce

11 am – 1 pm | Learning Space

In this two-hour class, mudlark Coral Pearce will help you develop your drawing skills, using real mudlarked objects as your inspiration.

StoryLark

2 - 3 pm | Start Point: Great Map

Join Rich Sylvester, Germander Speedwell and Remiiya Badru for a performative story walk connecting the objects displayed throughout the Museum on a walk beginning on the Great Map and ending in the Queen’s House.

Please sign up at the National Maritime Museum Parkside entrance ticket desk.

Artist talk: Foreshore Foundlings by Billie Bond

3.30 – 4.30 pm

Sculpture artist Billie Bond will discuss how her work as a contemporary crafter responds directly to the makers that came before, mediated through mudlarked finds.

Sunday 24th September

Display of mudlarked objects on the Great Map.

Mudlark Cinema

10 - 3pm  | Lecture Theatre

A series of short films celebrating mudlarks, their finds and the ancestral Thames will play on rotation throughout the day

Drop in table top workshops

Drop in | Great Map

‘Intention Boats’ with Remiiya Badru, artist and River Rambler. Pottery Sorting with Christine Webb

StoryLark

11 - 12, and 2 - 3 pm | Start Point: Great Map

Join Rich Sylvester, Germander Speedwell and Remiiya Badru for a performative story walk connecting the objects displayed throughout the museum on a walk beginning on the Great Map and ending in the Queen’s House.

Please sign up at the National Maritime Museum Parkside entrance ticket desk.

11 am - 1 pm | Learning Space

Get a hands-on insight into the making processes behind mudlarked finds with this sculpture workshop where you will create your own piece inspired by historic objects.

Panel discussion: Shipbuilding, Breaking and Maritime Greenwich

3.30 – 4.30 pm | Lecture Theatre

In this panel discussion, archaeologists from the Thames Discovery Programme share the personal stories that can be discovered within the objects, and places associated with London’s shipbuilding and shipbreaking industries, and share creative response to archaeological finds.

Book your free spaces now

Totally Thames Festival

This exhibition and talk is part of the Totally Thames Festival, an annual celebration taking place on, beneath and along the River Thames. Mudlarking walks and talks also feature during the festival. Check out all additional events, such as the StoryWalk and the Thames Discovery Programme foreshore walks, on the Totally Thames Festival website.

Visit the website