55-Year-Old Woman Dedicates 25 Years to Treasure Hunting Along the Thames River

A woman has made history by becoming Britain’s inaugural ‘Mudlark-in-Residence’ following 25 years of unearthing lost treasures along the Thames. Lara Maiklem, aged 55, discovered her passion for mudlarking after relocating to Greenwich, south-east London, over two decades ago, where she began exploring the riverbank. Since then, she has amassed thousands of artefacts, many of which are displayed in her guest bedroom, fashioned into a mini museum. Among her notable finds are a pair of Tudor children’s shoes dating back to the late 1500s, a Tudor dagger, Roman game counters, a complete Roman pot, and an early 18th-century wine bottle.

A Unique Role in the Heart of London

Southwark Cathedral has appointed Lara as their ‘Mudlark-in-Residence’, a pioneering role believed to be the first of its kind in the UK. Mudlarking, the practice of scouring riverbanks, particularly along the Thames, reveals historical items and treasures exposed by the mud at low tide. Lara expressed her gratitude, stating, “It was a great honour when the cathedral said that they were going to honour the work that I had done. It is absolutely the first-ever permanent Mudlark-in-Residence. The display we have at Southwark is the only permanent display of mudlarking objects in the world. I think mudlarking has reached the public fairly recently, and it has been great sharing it with the wider public.”

Her journey began when she found her first item, a clay pipe stem, igniting her passion for the hobby. Claiming to be the first to share her finds online, she began posting on social media as The London Mudlark in 2012. Lara is also the author of four books on the subject, including the Sunday Times bestseller, “Mudlarking: Lost and Found on the River Thames,” and “A Mudlarking Year: Finding Treasure in Every Season.”

Connection to the Past

Now residing on the Kent coast, the mother of two considers the river her favourite place, noting that the most intriguing objects to discover are shoes, as they hold a personal connection. She remarked, “I was just searching for somewhere quiet to go and I discovered the foreshore. It seemed like every time I went, I found something different. It is quite addictive mudlarking once you start. Going mudlarking and getting down on the river, you are in another world. You are a lifetime away from all the chaos that is going on in the city.”

Lara describes her experience as akin to time travel, explaining, “There is also this deep connection with the past that I can’t imagine you get with anything else. You are actually reaching down and touching objects that haven’t been touched since the day they were lost. It is just incredible.”

Rules and Regulations of Mudlarking

Engaging in mudlarking requires a permit, and there are strict guidelines regarding the handling of finds. Lara notes that any artefact over 300 years old must be reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme, while items made of gold or silver need to be submitted to a coroner. Additionally, discoveries cannot be sold, as they technically belong to the Port of London Authority. She adheres to her own personal guidelines, choosing not to use metal detectors, scrapers, or spades, only collecting items that have been revealed by the tide.

“Mudlarks will never get rich from what we are doing, and the items aren’t, on the whole, museum-worthy, but they are everyday loved and worn objects,” she said. “They all tell these stories of forgotten people, and those forgotten people are who we come from. The river will leave on every tide something different; you just need to have the patience, and eventually, you will find something.”

Building a Mudlarking Community

Lara has collaborated with Southwark Cathedral for approximately six years, participating in various talks, fundraisers, and foreshore walks. She also co-hosts an annual mudlarking festival, which is set to take place later this month. “We have been slowly building up a mudlarking presence in the cathedral. It makes perfect sense. The cathedral is really old. There are a lot of firsts for Southwark Cathedral, which is brilliant because it is a very forward-thinking cathedral, and they are always up for doing something different,” she added.