Overview
Unearth fascinating objects and stories from London’s past in the UK’s first major exhibition dedicated to mudlarking.
Explore the hidden world of the mudlarks.
Twice a day, the River Thames dramatically recedes to expose a landscape unknown to most Londoners. Among the mud and the stones, the tides reveal remarkable objects from every era of London’s rich past.
The exhibition featured over 350 mudlarked objects, from intimate personal items to historical relics, with many on display for the first time. Visitors could step into the shoes of a mudlark and explore the foreshore, uncover artefacts and learn how they identify and curate their personal collections.
The journey ended with a space for reflection on the mysteries of the moon and the tides that make mudlarking possible, leaving visitors with a powerful, contemplative memory of their time uncovering the secrets of the Thames.
Blending archaeology with contemporary art and digital experiences, Secrets of the Thames offered fresh perspectives on London and all its people – past and present.
What will you discover?
“a treasure of an exhibition”
— Londonist
“carefully curated and thoughtfully arranged”
— The Standard
Need to know
Everything you need to get the most out of your visit.
Revisit the exhibition with our free guide, which digs deeper into the fascinating (and often weird) stories behind objects found on the foreshore.
Expect to hear tales of huge Roman amphoras, pricey Georgian dentures and 3,000-year-old swords.
The exhibition is made possible through the generosity of our donors:
Helikon Shipping Enterprises Ltd
A legacy gift from Hilary Sims
The Worshipful Company of Needlemakers
The Worshipful Company of Shipwrights
We're also grateful to the Port of London Authority for their extensive collaboration and support in making this exhibition possible.
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