Foreshore Finds: A Journey Through Time

Mudlarking comes to Sutton Central Library! We were thrilled to welcome three local mudlarks to Sutton Central Library recently for the installation of a small exhibition titled, Foreshorefinds: A Journey Through Time. Located on the 2nd floor within the Family History Centre, the intriguing displays truly tell the story of everyday folk through a fascinating collection of objects found along the water’s edge.

For those who don’t know, mudlarking is the act of searching the muddy banks and foreshore of a tidal river—most famously the River Thames in London—for historical artifacts, lost items, and objects of interest. The term mudlark was originally coined in the 18th and 19th centuries to describe impoverished scavengers, often children or the elderly, who scavenged the low-tide mud of the Thames for scraps of coal, metal, bones, and rope to sell for survival. 

Today, mudlarking has become a popular pastime. Searching the tidal Thames foreshore legally requires a permit issued by the Port of London Authority, and the three mudlarks presenting their finds at the library are all officially licensed. Paige (@minilarklove), Nagat (@south_river_artist), and Pauline (@pauline.crowe) are all very active on Instagram, where they regularly share their discoveries. At the library, each presents a unique display reflecting their personal interest and connection to the foreshore. Nagat also holds a special Creative Foreshore Permit, which allows her to collect items of no inherent monetary or historical value to use in artworks and public exhibitions.

The exhibition, which runs until 22 August 2026, is open to the public during regular staffed open times, Monday to Saturday, 9am-5pm. Be sure to stop by for an intriguing journey through time told through an array of different artifacts found along the foreshore of the River Thames. And if this look at the city’s relationship with its water has piqued your interest, continue your journey by exploring the history of the River Wandle at Honeywood Museum by the ponds in Carshalton, which holds permanent displays around leisure and industry along the Wandle.