Mudlarking alchemy
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Uncovering the long-lost tools of the people who lived and worked along the river.
Join mudlark Monika Buttling-Smith as she reveals tools uncovered from the Thames foreshore – objects that offer a powerful connection to London’s long-lost riverside workers.
For centuries, blacksmiths have worked iron into practical items that have helped Londoners thrive.
When these were lost or discarded in the Thames, the anaerobic river mud enveloped the tools and protected them from the oxygen that would have otherwise allowed them to rust away.
In this lecture, Buttling-Smith will share tools she's discovered that tell the stories of the countless dockworkers and people who lived and worked along the river centuries ago.
Need to know
London Museum Docklands is open every day 10am – 5pm.
If you have time, why not also visit our free galleries and get more in-depth with Docklands history?
Our address is London Museum Docklands, No. 1 Warehouse, West India Quay, London E14 4AL. We're just a few minutes away from Canary Wharf and West India Quay.
Check our need to know page to get the answers to all the frequently asked questions about visiting.
Our cafe is the perfect place to sit down and relax for a bite or tea break. We have sandwiches, pastries, snacks and a wide selection of hot and cold drinks.
You’ll also find our shop with a curated range of gifts and souvenirs, including posters, prints, toys, books and jewellery.
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