Thames Mudlark Event

I had a fabulous time yesterday picking up things along the Thames Riverbank near the Millennium Bridge

I joined The Thames Explorer Foreshore walk for a 2 hour forage along the shore. We met at the Glass Obelisk at 12noon. We were shown some items and given a short talk on the sort of things we might find.

The green rough pottery was said to be Medieval pottery, there seemed to be quite a lot of it to find amongst the stones.

The beach was full of stuff: glass, pottery, masses of terracotta, and a multitude of clay pipe stems, so many that the lapping of the waves had a tinkly tune as the hollow pipe stems were washed back and for amongst the glass fragments.

We were told that some old wooden stumps were the remains of an Anglo Saxon pier, from a time when the water level was lower. (Click on any of the photos to see them larger).

To our surprise a wedding party scaled the steep steps for photos.

I left a few of our party still searching, but my backpack and pockets were full, so I left at about 1.45pm – I weighed my backpack when I got home – it weighed just over a 16lbs!

I put my bags in the cloakroom as the Tate Modern and had a look around … people were lying down in the turbine hall for a sound experience, I went into the newly opened bit – The Tanks – the viewing level alone is worth a visit

Then I made my way (slowly!) along the South Bank towards Waterloo, noticing other historical piers

a sandy beach

other mudlarkers

and a sand sculpture

 

I do love wandering along the South Bank – always lots to see.