I’ve always been fascinated by the past — particularly the small, ordinary things that give us a glimpse into the lives of people who lived hundreds or even thousands of years ago.
That interest first led me to metal detecting in the fields and farmland around England. Over the years I’ve been lucky enough to find a wide variety of objects, from coins and everyday items to some rather more unusual discoveries. Some have been recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme, while others have simply prompted me to do a bit of research and wonder about the people who once owned or used them.
To learn more about my earlier “finds from the fields” why not take a look at the Before the Thames section.
More recently, I’ve turned my attention to the Thames foreshore and discovered mudlarking. The Thames is an extraordinary place to explore because almost every object has a story to tell. A small piece of pottery, a coin, a button or a fragment of metal can open a window onto London’s past.
Stories from the Thames is my way of recording some of those discoveries and the stories I’ve uncovered along the way. I’m not an archaeologist or historian — just someone with a fascination for the past and a desire to find out a little more about the things I discover.
I’ll be adding new finds, photographs and research as I go, so hopefully the site will grow into a collection of stories about the people, places and everyday objects that have been part of London’s history. Feel free to check out my Mudlarking Blog to see how things unfold and, to stay in the loop, just hit the subscribe button below.
Every object has a story. The Thames has been collecting them for centuries.
