Mudlarking on the River Thames in London June 2015

Video of a mudlark on the River Thames in London

[@yepyep248]

That looks a lot like a Roman Lamp ! Very interesting and wonderful knowledge of pottery :) i learnt a lot thank you, great film .

[@PompeyChris71]

Richard you are the most informative man I know. Your knowledge astounds me.

[@richardhemery6916]

Thank you!

[@chrismc2696]

As a metal detectorist and river detector i found your video very informative. Very interesting to know which bits of pottery came from which era. Amazing to think that bits of history just wash in and out on a daily basis for centuries. Bet there has been a nice bit of gold, gold coins and other rare coinage cropped up that you have found. I will have a weekend in London and do some mudlarking myself at some point 100% very interesting

[@sprucehouse9]

What a fascinating thing that mudlarking is! I ran across your video during a search for Turner and the Thames. I was absolutely astounded at what you found along the river. Archaeology has been a casual hobby of mine since childhood, so this held great interest. That's for sharing your finds!

[@richardhemery6916]

+Linda Navroth Thank you!

[@londonmudlarker2855]

Thanks Richard, even though I'm a bit of a mudlarking pottery nerd myself, at least used to be, I found your video is brilliantly informative, I can't quite believe how much you found in one session and you found what I have always hankered after, a face from a medieval jug - very jealous. Your video really captures the pleasures of mudlarking, it has made me quite nostalgic. I'll spread the word about your great videos via twitter. Thanks again Julia

[@richardhemery6916]

+london mudlarker Thanks Julia, the face jug was special (less special was the moment I realised the actual finding had been deleted on the video...) thanks for the Twitter promotion! What were your best mudlarking finds?

[@TheFiown]

If you picked up all these beautiful shards you could make an amazing floor set in concrete or a garden table top !! love your channel

[@richardhemery6916]

Thanks!

[@letsgoinc.705]

Very informative video which gives a nice history lesson while retaining the thrill of the hunt. The post commentary going over each piece kept with images of completed examples brings the learning experience further. Fascinating to see so many different types of pottery. A historical interactive museum of little artifacts that expose themselves for a brief time. Subscribed.

[@richardhemery6916]

+LET'S GO INC. Thanks again!

[@jynxgoxoom]

First time watching one of your videos and I must admit I rather enjoyed it. I loved how you handled the little bit of opp with your daughter I thought that was very classy. I will definitely check out some of your other videos. Well wishes from Canada.

[@richardhemery9409]

+Byron G Thanks Byron!

[@hatefullll]

I LOVE this video. I'm sharing with all my friends. Thanks for taking the time to make and post this video! I'm here in Kentucky daydreaming of the Thames and its treasures!!!!!!! This video is a treat.

[@richardhemery6916]

+hatefullll thanks!

[@street-lifeboxing1354]

Hi there Richard it's Dimitris it was nice to finally meet u I found some samien ware just as u left many thanks Dimitris

[@gavstickdrumstick2150]

Very informative. Have wanted to do this for years. Found a small organised tour company online and I'll be down from the Midlands for my first foray in March.

[@richardhemery6916]

+gavstick drumstick Thanks and happy hunting!

[@dartek14]

lovely .. many thanks Sir. Looking forward to seeing the rest. ..

[@yeovil50]

That was incredibly interesting and thanks for uploading. I have always wanted to go Mudlarking. I now live in Turkey and always wonder what amazing finds you could find on the Bosphurous ! Again thanks for the upload, really enjoyed it.

[@charlesperez9976]

Your ability to instantly recognize items is so very impressive,wow

[@marknagle57]

Amazing knowledge of pottery history. Very informative thank you

[@richardhemery6916]

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Best wishes, Richard

[@brunothor2696]

I enjoy these so much! Thank you!

[@batteredtortoise3776]

What an interesting video, learnt a lot.

[@hedgehog3900]

Pottery.Right out of my comfort zone but i enjoyed that quite a lot.Thank you.

[@explorer365555]

Found you through the London Mudlarker. Thanks so much for the interesting video! I visited London for a week from Canada to go Mudlarking and I was in Heaven. So much History :0

[@richardhemery6916]

Carrie Kurk Thanks Carrie I'm glad you got the chance to go to the Thames, did anything interesting turn up?

[@explorer365555]

facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151535747712799.1073741826.550587798&type=1&l=d2f73ec47a My finds :0

[@richardhemery6916]

OK! Well done! You've done a good job with the ID's as well. Picture 18, the pewter fragment, you were right with your first guess, I'm pretty sure its part of a childs toy chair. The piece is the right size and shape for a seat, and the design is meant to imitate an upholstered seat. The back of the chair would date it more closely, but I would say 1680 - 1750 would be about right.

[@batterseabill7288]

Visit the foreshore by Battersea. The new riverbus pier at Plantation Wharf SW11. The shelf cut into the riverbed, Has helped to push water faster Under the Railway arch. Scooping up items towards St. Marys church. Best find to date has been A dark blue glass drink bottle. Bottom chipped but still a nice R. Whites artifact. Just laying on the surface stones. Would be lost forever, if I hadn't Walked that day in that area. Come and explore.

[@kbwoodcock]

The wooden drain is amazing

[@thomasyoung2458]

You are a smart person and worth watching keep it up

[@richardhemery6916]

thank you

[@Treasuremonk]

Where is this in reference to the tower bridge ? I plan on coming over in Oct to metal detect in Colchester and have applied for my mud larking license .. Just trying to find the allowed areas,,I know a few of the bridges there in London,, other than that no reference on where the steps are to get to the foreshore..many thanks and great videos.!

[@MerkabaKid]

I think maybe,you had a piece of Ambergris in your hand, - the coral fossil?? 🍥🍀🍥 Great info, thanks for sharing 🍥🍃🍥

[@rekindlethewick583]

Very cool. Nice info on pots.

[@richardhemery6916]

Thank you!

[@sheilacowles]

Could some of the relics be from bombing of the buildings during the war?

[@richardhemery6916]

Yes, there is debris in the river from the war.

[@josephmontero3398]

man you know you clay.

[@damianjones7554]

that was fascinating Richard :-)

[@richardhemery6916]

+Damian Jones thanks!

[@SecretSquirrelFun]

10:23 just to the right of your hand, there’s a rock with what looks like a little face, ha ha. 17:06 top middle, the rock at the back looks like an owl with its wings stretched out wide ❤

[@carrie_on_larkin]

Hello, oh, your daughter made me laugh borrowing your camera, haha. I'm a mudlark from the Isle of dogs and have now got 34,000 followers on tiktok. I was wondering if you'd like to meet up one day down the foreshore. It would be lovely to speak with someone who really knows their stuff as I've only been doing properly for 5 months. If not, no worries. Happy hunting!! 😊

[@richardhemery6916]

Hi Carrianne, I would love to, and I've never ventured as far as the Isle of Dogs! But sadly I'm waiting for the PLA to renew my licence, which expired before the change of policy. So I can't mudlark at the moment. I'm happy to offer advice on any pottery you might come across - contact me on instagram (Thames_pottery) Richard

[@pigoff123]

So people threw their broken pottery in the river

[@richardhemery6916]

Yes, and building and embankment work has left a lot of dumped rubbish which is ending up in the river.

[@jamesheim3679]

Change the name of the video to "boring pottery video"

[@kwlloyd7]

James Heim If you’re bored, stop watching! Many of us love richard’s videos!

[@mercuryrob1]

First time watching for me too, very informative and interesting. All the best. Rob

[@richardhemery6916]

+Mercury Rob Thanks!

[@williamaksel]

Enjoyed the video. I might have appreciated a bit more of a lingering view of some of the complete items similar to your finds.

[@richardhemery6916]

Thank you.

[@carracoleman1988]

Very interesting! I totally enjoyed very much. Thank you!

[@richardhemery6916]

Thanks, Carra!

[@DennisMorrison1955]

Always a total delight to watch your videos. So very fascinating!!!!!

[@Diggin4LifeMetalDetecting]

You know your stuff! Great video.

[@richardhemery6916]

+JC DTECT Thanks!

[@Landstrider2010]

Very enjoyable and very informative!! Thank you very much for sharing it!

[@kwlloyd7]

I do a fair bit of pottery, both thrown and hand built. So as you were showing the large piece - initially perhaps an amphora, though later an olive jug - it suddenly struck me to wonder how the amphorae were built. Their long cylindrical form suggests they were thrown, but if so, the rounded bottoms make no sense. I suppose one could throw it upside down, closing in at the finish, but then the rims would be a mess! And I cannot imagine doing it all by coil building!

[@richardhemery6916]

Some have a plug of clay in the base, where a hole was filled, it must have taken some strength to draw them up, but marks inside suggest they were thrown.

[@teresabarber217]

adorable bit with your daughter

[@MegaGary1960]

great video you sure know your stuff will be checking out your videos

[@richardhemery6916]

Thank you

[@robbowilson5580]

Fasinating Journey Through Pottery Time many thanks For Posting

[@richardhemery6916]

Thank you

[@kg6je]

Hi Richard. I watched my first introduction to Mudlarking on a CNN video this morning. It was only about 2 minutes. I then watched this one of yours and thoroughly enjoyed it. I only wish we could have even about half of the depth of history you have there in London here in the US! I guess it might still be interesting to mudlark on some of the rivers by our original colonial cities. Steve Fortune of Boise, Idaho.

[@richardhemery6916]

Thanks Steve, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@BoiseG]

Is this something that a non-UK citizen can partake in? I know pipes are quite common finds, but I would be elated to find even a pipe! Loved the video, thanks!

[@richardhemery6916]

Hello, it is available to anyone to walk on the Thames foreshore. But just this week the authorities have extended the licence needed for metal detectors to 'eyes only' searchers as well. You can buy a day permit for £30 or a 3 year licence for £90. I think it's a shame but they have to try and regulate the history.

[@BulletsandButtons]

I think it is disgusting that they have changed the rules.

[@ramblingrob4693]

The history is really interesting

[@pigoff123]

Thank you for teaching us about pottery.

[@_Ramen-Vac_]

really really informative and fascinating. I have some native America shards .. one in particular is the "Lazy P" . lots of various arrow points too. used to walk fields for hours after a plow and a good rain.

[@richardhemery6916]

Sounds interesting, I have some Woodland period pottery from the US someone sent me. Thank you for your comment.

[@wendyharper2154]

Really interesting video Richard. Great to see someone else who loves pottery shards.

[@richardhemery6916]

Thanks Wendy!

[@marynorthcott6504]

you missed the arrow head...

[@janeduh2595]

very pretty roman fragment..

[@sarahstrong7174]

Thankyou for sharing your search, finds & knowledge. All the best.

[@richardhemery6916]

Thank you!

[@kbwoodcock]

If the glass is all lovely and smooth = sea/river/lake glass. If it’s still sharp = broken bottles, though my husband calls sea glass broken bottles too.

[@richardhemery6916]

Yes, the foreshore is in the broken bottle category!

[@kbwoodcock]

I keep seeing lovely bits around the other finds being looked for.

[@shoshana2107]

Thank you for the wonderful sights and lessons!

[@richardhemery6916]

thank you!

[@tere11]

Wonderful! Thanks for sharing!

[@richardhemery6916]

Thanks so much!

[@Automedon2]

What a great video. I always wonder, as far as pottery shards go, how they all ended up in the river. Was it that they were purposely thrown there once they broke? I guess rivers were the method of disposing of trash back then.

[@richardhemery6916]

+TheLeatherChannel Yes, and also dumped behind embankments during land reclamation, which are now eroding.

[@kbwoodcock]

Are you allowed to pick up sea glass?

[@richardhemery6916]

Yes, but most of it is not that worn yet, still sharp!

[@maryhelen1011]

I love this video, your wealth of information is wonderful! I hope you're still making videos?! All the best to you! Thank you for sharing!

[@petersmith5199]

Another stunning history lesson!

[@richardhemery6916]

Thank you!

[@charleydavidson69]

Hi - I have just started to get into metal detecting again and stumbled across your video by chance. Really interesting - I never realised that you can gain so much information from a few shards or pot. I used to mudlark on the foreshore at Battersea when I was at school over 40 years ago now and your video has brought back good memories for me. Excellent.

[@treasurehuntingscotlandmud9340]

enjoyed the video

[@oggyradagaming7541]

Thats nice video

[@richardhemery6916]

+Oggyrada Gaming thank you!

[@lowcostadventures]

Glad I found you from across the pond. Very very informative. Glad to subscribe.

[@richardhemery6916]

Thank you!

[@thomasroberts1426]

its strange how some areas held alots of pottery pieces and some held alot of nails and some held clam shells so on and so forth

[@lucyslarkingadventures9863]

Really interesting video, thanks. Subscribed for more.

[@richardhemery6916]

Thank you, I see you are near Bath, is the river tidal there, and of course, do you find Roman?

[@alanroberts4060]

Got to say you sure know your pottery , how do you know all this ?

[@delljohnson1036]

really cool..ìd like to try that. no idea what is what but id love to do it anyway. great video sir

[@richardhemery6916]

Thanks!

[@janelovesy2399]

Most informative and interesting ...thanks

[@jake_camilleri1]

Hello, Fantastic video ! I found this easy to sit and watch and very informative. I'd like to learn more about stonewares and ceramics, any ideas on where to start? I have lots of finds I'm desperately trying to identify. also, I tried looking for your website, compethepots.com, but could not find it, is it still active? Thanks, subbed

[@richardhemery6916]

Sooo many books. I like the Shire series - they are short and expertly written. Post Medieval Pottery, Slipware, Roman Pottery. On Facebook there are several mudlarking and pottery groups, you could try posting a few pieces there, one piece at a time is best, Pottery Shards UK is one I am a member of, Thames Foreshore Finds another good group, are you in the UK?

[@jeremyholden2782]

Brilliantly informative. I am happy to have finally got a date on the shell-studded course pottery. I find it regularly in Beds and wasn't sure of its date. Lots of Norman activity in my village in the 12thC, so makes sense.

[@richardhemery6916]

thank you!

[@pigoff123]

I loved riding the trains in Germany

[@saxonfan1970]

Great informative video. I'm from the states and always wanted to try mudlarking it's really interesting what you could find. Do people mudlark on the Thames outside of the city?

[@richardhemery6916]

saxonfan1970 Yes, the river is tidal for many miles inland outside the city, and archaeological features also turn up when the water levels drop in high summer. Between London and the sea there are huge mudflats which people search - you get some awesome things dropped from ships over the years, and a whole Roman pottery industry at Upchurch to explore, but its VERY muddy so you have to be careful! Have you seen the London Mudlark Facebook page - people post a lot of finds there. facebook.com/LondonMudlark?fref=photo

[@natalieberrisford4504]

very informative I love it, subscribed in first 5 mins

[@richardhemery6916]

Thank you!

[@jennifermann8740]

Extremely informative. I loved it. I couldn't leave all those beautiful bits though.

[@richardhemery6916]

thank you!

[@curoimacdaire3630]

Just stumbled across this and what fun it was to watch! Your knowledge and specifics make this so fascinating I could watch for hours. Thanks for this!

[@richardhemery6916]

Thank you!

[@panbear9265]

+Richard Hemery omg very interesting video you would go wild at the pottery and other artifacts you find where I live eyes only I have a nice collection 👍👏 even found a loaded gun from Paris 1800 palm pistol called lemon squeezer

[@panbear9265]

+Richard Hemery not a cage but cell from car battery

[@usakindatheartflower6229]

I truly enjoy your videos

[@enriquemireles8947]

I enjoyed watching your video. You are very informative on pottery. So much history in that river.

[@Michael_Michaels]

Don't you need a permit to do the "mudlark"?

[@richardhemery6916]

No permit is required for searching 'eyes only' but if you want to scrape or metal detect a permit is needed from the Port of London authority. No one can search archaeologically sensitive areas, of which there are a few in London.

[@austinnitsua4904]

Is this London England or London ontario

[@hedgehog3900]

Good question,the Roman occupation of Ontario should be investigated more!

[@jonnamclean1674]

I'd love to know exactly where this is.

[@richardhemery6916]

I normally walk between the Millenium Bridge and just beyond Cannon Street rail bridge.

[@richardhemery6916]

On the North Bank of the river, that is.

[@jonnamclean1674]

Thank you.

[@mkhuntstreasure3192]

So interesting.

[@richardhemery6916]

Thank you!

[@partyparty5920]

The sing-song voice, raising it at the end of every sentence (usually on the word "there") becomes difficult to bear. Amateur videographers often do this. Just speak as if you were talking to someone in the street. I am switching off after 6 minutes as I can't stand it any more.

[@jamesheim3679]

Okay, tried to finish but couldnt get past around 8 min, its not mudlarking its just pottery.... what about non ceramics?????

[@richardhemery6916]

If I found any I'd film it!