London Mudlarking - The Saddest Thames Find

On Wednesday 12th December 2018, I met up with Chill Bill and Si-Finds to film a Christmas Mudlarking Special!
This video is made up of some of our finds from the day out at Millbank in London. During the expedition, Simon Bourne (Si-Finds) made an extra special discovery which I was particularly green with envy at! You can find out more by watching this video!
During the video I mention a blog by Marie Louise Plum about her mudlarking finds. You can find the link here:-
thamesmudlarkdiary.com/
And also, I mention the artist Annabel Ludovici Gray. You can find out about her project here:-
vimeo.com/301940940
And her website is here:-
www.annabelludovici.com/
You do need a permit to mudlark along the River Thames and you can find out the details on the Port of London Authority website which is here
www.pla.co.uk/Environment/Tha...
Thank you for watching. Comments and feedback always welcome.
You can find Chill Bill's channel here:-
/ @chillbill1
You can find Si-Finds channel here:-
/ sxsi81
see you soon.
Nicola
Nicola White
www.tidelineart.com

[@boblindstrom3479]

Why do I, at 76, weep for Mary Ann? She is certainly NOT forgotten. God bless her soul.

[@connie6545]

This was one episode that I just found yesterday. The Forget Me Not token touched my heart. I just can't imagine that a 10 year old girl was sentenced to prison for stealing a loaf of bread! Your research and history is remarkable. It connects these artifacts to the REAL people from days gone by. I just know that I won't forget Mary Franklin! Thank you--you are a treasure!! 👍✨💖

[@fishinwidow35]

She was probably sentenced to 7 year indenture

[@dazuk1969]

To a Miss Mary A Franklin...10 years old....your wish has been granted. You have just been remembered by many.....you will be screen burnt into my mind for a very long time....God bless you Kid....D

[@JamesBond-uz2dm]

In 1844, she got out of prison and threw her prison identification into the Thames River. She was celebrating her freedom. Mary was a plucky one. I hope she saw better days as an adult.

[@dazuk1969]

@@JamesBond-uz2dm Hi there James...Nicola told us that brass forget me not was not done Mary herself, but to know she threw her prison I.D in the Thames just makes the story even more poignant. Massive thanks for letting us know that. For some reason i haven't been able to get that story of a 10yr old child being thrown in prison out of my head...it just seems barbaric, even though it was a long time ago. Can i also second your sentiment, and say i hope life was more kind to her after that. Thanks again my friend....Peace.

[@shakespeare_hall4788]

@@dazuk1969 More than likely she didn't go to prison but was sent to the colonies ! loaded onto a ship in the Thames and sent to Australia !

[@markcahoon2534]

@@dazuk1969 I can tell you now, that there was much more of this than people realize. I don't think I should say more, as you probably wouldn't believe me, but it is quite horrifying and not over.

[@dazuk1969]

@@markcahoon2534 Thank you for your reply Mark...is Nicola doing a follow up on this ?...i would genuinely like to know more....Peace.

[@risin4949]

I think I have found our girl on Ancestry UK. In a trial at Banbury, Oxfordshire. 24 June 1843 Mary Ann Franklin was found guilty of larceny and sentenced to 7 years transportation. I know she was pardoned, presumably in Australia. I hope she managed to make a life for herself.

[@emilymorrison3186]

Awesome!!!!! Thank you! I was wondering if there was a way to search old court records.

[@deniseg-hill1730]

Would be nice if any of her descendants saw this.

[@emilylloyd-gale6382]

I live just outside of Banbury. I shall take a photo of the buildings where she was tried. ☺️

[@UnscrupulousAgitator]

Thank you. Forgotten you are not Mary Ann

[@eily_b]

@@IntrospectorGeneral Did you read the comment from Terri C to Sylwia J. This ist not the same person. The one you are referring to was 26 years old in 1847. "Our" Mary was 10 in 1844

[@suziperret468]

Mary Franklin, you have traveled through time for us to behold! We remember you child.

[@MManv84]

The forget me not is fake -- watch to the end of the video

[@richardwilliams3031]

When i was a drayman i have seen in a pub in Guilford the records of some who were transported to Portsmouth for the voyage to Australia, among them a boy sentenced for "skating on a gentleman's pond on a sunday". Outrageous.

[@iamjustsaying.2239]

Guildford... Home of the rich.

[@randomvintagefilm273]

Omg, life is so unfair. Many didn't survive that hellish 10 month voyage. We should all be grateful for our lives.

[@chevychase3103]

Thankful my ass we should all rebelled against those authoritarians! Oh f*** I'm on the watch list now!

[@lucyquinnell3204]

I read an excellent book about this that gives it an even more disturbing angle. The British authorities needed to populate Australia with young, fit, healthy people with good teeth and no problems. Petty crimes were 'invented' and perfect candidates spotted, in order that there were plenty of the physically right kind of people to transport. Quite often, a death sentence would be commuted to transportation - the authorities would then look merciful, whereas actually all they wanted all along was the healthy specimen for their colonisation programme.

[@rovhalt6650]

On a SUNDAY! The nerve!

[@tomsbasement4884]

The saddest thing I've ever found was a lone tombstone marked with "Our baby" in the middle of the woods on Fort Benning, Georgia when I was going through basic infantry training in 1985. It has haunted me all these years, the pain of the parents that lost their child, the remote location, and the solitary marker all alone out there. It appeared very old but had no dates on it. I know the government moved many people as the base expanded through the years.

[@ashleighjaimaosborne3966]

Tom's Basement may that little soul RIP. 🇨🇦

[@msjannd4]

😪

[@gregm8871]

That's wild. We just moved from Ft Jackson and there are all kinds of barely marked and unmarked graves in the range areas. Similar to Benning, Jackson had many expansions through history which resulted in many graves becoming lost to time.

[@shawnsims5507]

I remember seeing one at fort Benning as well might be the same but there were four graves at this one.

[@nicolawhitemudlark]

Thanks Tom. Do you have any photos of it? Sorry for the late reply, but if you do, please send to [e-mail] and perhaps we can do some research on it. Thank you. best wishes, Nicola

[@LezMarwick]

Your closing words brought tears to my eyes today. I've had a tough year and lost my brother in July. He was only 47 - the last of my family, and we were very close. He loved your videos and introduced me to them last year.... I've watched them all. I was telling him about the new ones while visiting him for months in critical care, even when he was in a coma. His birthday was two days before Christmas, so I am finding this time of year difficult to cope with. Anyway, thanks for your thoughtful comments and keep making the videos and the artwork as they give so much joy to many, including myself. All the best.. Lez

[@Scrap5000]

I feel you

[@11111972cjb]

So sorry for your loss. My father died of accidental electrocution on Christmas Day, he was 52 years old.. Such a waste of a life. All the best, Chris..

[@11111972cjb]

Tiger Cub hi again. I'm not sure where you are but in Australia if someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma (asbestosis) they automatically get paid out a large some depending on how old they were. My sister in law was diagnosed with mesothelioma only 7months ago, she passed away three weeks ago. It's weird how it stays in the body for so long before it gets to the stage where one only has months to live. God bless you all.

[@dazuk1969]

I had to reply to your post Lez....to let you know you are not alone. Like you i have lost all my family...including my brothers who were in their 40s like your brother. Culminating in my Mums passing last year. I cannot extend enough love to you Lez..and i will pray that your coming Christmas will be as pain free as possible. Lastly, you have done the right thing...reach out to people...especially as we are blessed with the far reaching aspect of the internet....God bless you Lez...D

[@jenniferholden9397]

Lez Marwick Really sorry for your loss Lez, go and live like for the both of you, he'll always be with you. Best wishes, Jenny X

[@NOT_SURE..]

wow i bet she never thought that people would be remembering her 180 years later.

[@Turkeyinthehay]

It would sure be amazing if that young girl's descendants could be found. Imagine having such a piece of your family's history given to you! So fascinating.

[@MManv84]

The forget me not is fake -- watch to the end of the video

[@hotpockets3660]

These were some amazing and very historical finds. The Mary Franklin forget me not was my favorite of all. I am from the United States but have always wanted all my life to visit England and Ireland. I have never been outside of the US but this is a dream of mine. I would like to think that the locals at these two places would welcome me there and show me kindness. I would love to try mudlurking with someone there and here their history stories of the land. My younger brother got to go to Afghanistan but that's different, he was there fighting for our country so his visit there was not on his time to explore and meet people and enjoy the experience. I want to see England and Ireland and meet the beautiful people and explore the land and I don't think I would ever be fired upon. I believe Ireland would be breathtaking beautiful. Maybe someday.

[@melaniesheppard778]

Nicola, you are a very special lady. A wonderful thing to be a part of your sharing. Thank you. Your nieces and nephews are very fortunate.

[@nicolawhitemudlark]

Thank you Melanie. You are very special yourself ❤️😘

[@janemerritt5344]

The little fluted item that you thought was a jelly mold is actually an old electric light switch surround. The actual switch would be sticking out of the middle.

[@jbrady539]

I thought it might have been a bell

[@Catubrannos]

Figured it was a decorative mould of some kind, back when everything in a building was decorated.

[@nickimacrae7163]

I was going to say the same 😊

[@earling22]

jane merritt knob and tube switch

[@papamaanbeerVideo]

ah i was guessing it might have been part of a lighting fixture

[@marstondavis]

I remember my folks took me to Jack London Sq. at Christmas time in about 1956. My dad knew I was bored stiff. He said run along and don't get into trouble...we'll be here at ? oclock and don't be late. You have a watch...don't be late! I met some kids and I guess they we're 'mud larking' on the San Francisco bay. We had a grand time...black kids, white kids, brown kids, kids that didn't know where each other was from. There was no reason we were to be together that day but we were together. I remember a skinny black kid. He was so funny. He had some of us laughing so hard we could barely stand up. Easy days...grand times with boys just being boys. I haven't thought of that day in so long. Thanks for this video and a very special remembrance of my youth.

[@PrimetimeNut]

Marston Davis great story Marston! May I ask how old you are now?

[@dondobbs9302]

I was just thinking about Jack London's book The People of the Abyss in relation to the Mary Franklin story here.

[@Tagurrit]

Marston Davis I remember going to the square too. Had some great times there. Alameda was always an adventure!

[@HumanimalChannel]

Wouldn't it be amazing if Mary's descendants be they in Australia or elsewhere, to receive this medallion as a piece if their family history.

[@MrJm323]

Watch the end of the video. ....It's fake, something created by an artist and chucked into the Thames earlier in the year.

[@stevecharman8420]

When it was found I was thinking that the writing was suspiciously good for a 10 year old who may have been illiterate given her family situation.

[@trimule]

I hate to use the condescending sounding word "obviously" but the token was obviously written with an electric engraver pen. Very few of those around in the 1840's.

[@nicolawhitemudlark]

Yes you are indeed correct. Did you watch until the end to find out who made it!?

[@HumanimalChannel]

@@nicolawhitemudlark I did after the comment! Must wait till the end to write!

[@viperbroncoalmasty]

that little girl will never be forgotten, now. even though she has long since disappeared

[@fairlyvague82]

This is the first video I’ve ever seen on mudlarking and tbh I didn’t even really know what it meant. Little Mary’s story had me sobbing. I’m so sorry you were treated that way Mary, but I know about you now and it’s the year 2020, so you haven’t been forgotten sweetheart, even 180 years later! I now intend to binge my way through this channel lol Happy 2020 everyone and thank you for a brand new historical interest ❤️❤️❤️

[@MW-nOttawa]

I have an 11 year old son and couldn't imagine him being taken at 10 and sent away... incredible.

[@misskpot]

We remember you little Mary! 😭

[@missyb7411]

The piece of wood with a nail through it looked like a Christmas stocking, perfect for this episode.

[@67daltonknox]

Reminds me when I was a lad, by the side of the Portsmouth Harbour station, urchins would slop around in the mud by the pier at low tide while people threw coins for them to retrieve. My grandfather used to call them mudlarks.

[@louiechidwick6034]

The piece of wood with a nail through it is almost certainly part of a boat, probably the keel. The nail is what is called a 'Rove nail' and an expert could probably date it for you as the style of the 'roves' changed over time. Great video Nicola. Stay safe. Louie. xx

[@stuartfreiburg790]

Mud-larking! What a hansom word to display the historical items that are found at your fingertips in England! The recent discoveries of earlier then Clovis realities have caused Americans to dig a bit deeper into an entirely different past. A past hitherto undiscovered. The most exciting breakthrough in modern history!

[@srvfan454]

Bless young Mary Franklin's soul. I remember you kid. I hope you had a big family and a wonderful life!

[@Bucketlistretreats]

Ah Mary, my fav flower has always been the Forget-Me-Not ...the Alaska state flower ... we will not forget you XO, Kelly

[@kgoldsmith6104]

The 'jelly mould" item is almost certainly an old light switch cover 😊

[@Krawlergarage]

I love the round chair. The history of all you find is breathtaking.

[@HighTones]

So Glad Mary Franklin has not been forgotten! Very moving that tugs at the heart! These people probably did not have much to live for but you have brought new life to them. Thank you for sharing!

[@shiannevalenzuela8614]

I cried for Mary and all children who went to prison for stealing out of desperation

[@ukrpgfan4029]

Get a life....

[@ethmad9061]

@@ukrpgfan4029 ?

[@timmytwatcop8764]

@@ukrpgfan4029 She has....but you just have a meaningless existence

[@timmytwatcop8764]

@ I'm a Tory, but some of us have empathy☺

[@neil5437]

@@timmytwatcop8764 Only for the rich who want to get richer. Tories have no empathy for the disabled, the ill, the sick, the poor, the homeless, children or the futures of children.

[@RobertLeather]

7:25 and 15:55 Reminds me of the surround for a light switch. Stayed in an old house many years back and they were everywhere, including one that few off and looked identical.

[@Sch00lbu5]

of all the things you and your friends have found on the banks of the Thames, that token is the most precious

[@occamsrazor7939]

A 10 year girl sentenced for a felony. That was so sad about Mary.

[@ohmeowzer1]

Poor dear Mary Franklin ,,May she be at peace ,, I love the music Angels we have heard on high ,it is so pretty

[@alanleemaxwell831]

God bless Miss Franklin, you'll never be forgotten now x

[@dannyhamel81]

I never knew mud larking could be so interesting with all the history and wonderful finds and nice pieces

[@brumsgrub8633]

Fairly new to your channel, and I have spent a lovely Saturday morning drinking tea watching your brilliant videos, gotta go and play cricket now. Not many things stop me from doing that, but I would happily sit in all day watching these videos, great stuff.

[@nicolawhitemudlark]

Hi. Thank you very much for sharing that. Delighted you found them. I have a wonderful time making them. Enjoy your cricket! Nicola

[@paulantonybeagley]

The round fluted object is an electric light switch cover usually brass, we had identical items in our old Victorian house in Northwood, Middx.

[@TailgateSage]

Your reverence for the humanity associated with these items is touching.

[@goldmanjace]

Beautiful woman! Amazing find! 10 year old sentenced broke my heart!

[@Motspur]

Thousands of children starving, having to steal a crust of bread to kill the hunger. The saddest thing is, it was in probably the richest most powerful country on earth. Love the videos.

[@johncarter2573]

Deported for stealing bread. And you can get away with a light sentence today for almost any crime. Great story. John in London.

[@nancyvolker3342]

you always think how nice things were in the past but then a reminder like mary's story show themselves at how things really were for some and it was very hard indeed

[@cointreasurehunt1319]

That poor kid. We are not all born equal. I hope you had a good life Mary. Good finds, good video.

[@alisontaylor4880]

You connect with so many lives in your finds. What were their lives like? What were their trials in life? Why did their object end up in the river? Thank you for bringing these remembrances back, if only in small little pieces. The one with the little girl was especially touching. I guess that they didn't even have soup lines in those days to help the poor. I hope that she fared better in later life. Thank you and Si.

[@lorikendrick5076]

That is amazing. I will not forget Mary Franklin.

[@therrienmichael08]

So how much bread did the government then give Mary while in custody ? Ironic. Ridiculous the ways back then.

[@MrKmoconne]

If Guy Fawkes can be remembered for plotting to blow up Parliament, maybe they should also remember Mary and all the people around the world who are imprisoned unjustly. Some imprisoned figures are controversial, but I can't think anyone in modern times that thinks a 10 year old stealing food needs to do hard time in a prison. She would be a perfect symbol.

[@andrewturnbull1027]

@@MrKmoconne I agree ' even the United States in 2005 decided it was unconstitutional to execute children anymore,

[@MrKmoconne]

@@andrewturnbull1027 I can't imagine how in ANY time period that people thought children were culpable for their actions to such a degree. Even during the hardest of times, 10 years is hardly a lifetime enough to understand even the basics of right and wrong. Everyone of that time period should have understood that hunger and survival trumps criminality.

[@massimodalmiglio7528]

I do share your feeling and consideration mate.

[@svens.5139]

Thames is mystical river. Cheers from Germany.

[@JoeSmith-gw6hc]

The history of the forget me not blows my mind. To find the history behind it puts a life to it. Thank you for sharing this with us. I think you would make a great history teacher. I'm absolutely glued to these pieces of history and information you share with us. I find it absolutely fascinating. Here I am 47 yrs old listening to these like a child being read a book at bedtime

[@royfernley3153]

And I’d like to add that as a Londoner living in Auckland I really enjoy your videos and the glimpses into the past that your finds represent. Not big important artifacts that someone thought needed preserving but everyday items that have come to us by accident of survival. Truly fascinating, especially some of those pipes with such long stems.

[@johnc3403]

The forget me not token looked suspicious to me immediately because the edges were so sharp. There's no way a copper token would have look that clean-edged after 150 years in the water. Still, as you said Nicola, it was an interesting find that revealed a wonderful story. I really enjoyed your video.

[@thatswhatshesaid.literally737]

☺ *Around **1:10**, At first I thought you said "tīts in boots" and I was thinking 😄 "Gotta love her witty humor and genuine self confidence!" Then I replayed it and heard the correct "tinsley boots". 🤣 Pure lol!!*

[@J.L.Nelson]

I thought the same thing!😂

[@kimchilcott]

@@J.L.Nelson yep, me too lolol

[@bohood8419]

Did the same thing. Lol

[@JK35280]

Good - I'm not the only one who heard that!

[@niwe79]

LOL 😂👍🏼

[@jackiereynolds2888]

Social science and history, right there along the Thames. Wonderful video.

[@partyvr5053]

What an incredible find that little plack with the girls name! What amazes me was that she was sentenced to such a long period of time and being so young! Sad indeed!

[@fuchiaimperfect2093]

very interesting - I would never have thought that there was so much to be found on the river's edge. The story of the young prisoner is especially remarkable.

[@demeramyklos4290]

This is very moving. What a trove of the treasures of time.

[@TheAuntieBa]

The wedding ring: I lost mine when my hands got cold outside and it slipped off, unnoticed. I so love the stories you unearth and the way you try so hard to find those whose belongings you find, whether mudlarking or on the sidewalk. You bring history alive, large or small.

[@KenKelowna]

Nicola, I live in Western Canada. Your utube videos on the Thames Mudlarking are the best. The next best thing to being there, keep up the good work.

[@1969carlo]

Incredible, hope Mary had a good life after-all..... great video.

[@Macho_Fantastico]

The Forget me Not tablet made me sad, hope she went on to have a happier life. Can't imagine being locked up at ten years old for just stealing bread.

[@pastexpiry2013B]

wonder how it compared to going to school.

[@nancydellinger303]

I questioned if Mary had inscribed the medallion. Would she have possessed the literacy skills to do so?

[@EricKnows]

When they dewatered Niagara Falls a couple of decades ago to check out the base rock they found the skeleton of a woman wedged headfirst in the rocks below the falls. She wore a ring with the inscription, "Forget me not". She's never been identified.

[@EricKnows]

@@nancydellinger303 Watch the end of the video again. :)

[@nancydellinger303]

G ScotDeerie Yes, I heard what she said about it being the work of a contemporary artist. My doubts occurred when they first found the item and were speculating that the child had done it herself.

[@jamesdalley2615]

The "jelly mould" that you found, and reflect on at 15:55 or so of this video is a dolly light switch cover. We've been trying to find these to install into our house as we think they look fab, and I was surprised to see one appear in this episode! I appreciate I'm 5 years late, so perhaps you already know this by now!

[@wesleyashton9813]

That button he found is, 4th Royal Lancashire (duke of Lancaster’s own) Light Infantry Militia 1860-1881.

[@MrJimlad75]

4th Royal South Middlesex Militia Date: 1855 - 1860 looks more like this tunic badge

[@wesleyashton9813]

MrJimlad75 badges don’t always match the buttons, the button is in the books as the ID above, it changed after the 1881 regimental reforms

[@leabrunner6102]

superb work. Honi soit qui mal y pense...

[@ha6ni6el6]

@@leabrunner6102 Yes, the motto of the Order of the Garter is clearly discernable, as is the Garter & Buckle motif surrounding it!

[@andrewwyatt1784]

The brass fluted thing, is a light switch surround, when I was 3 or 4 years old we had them in our old house of flats, in Streatham I unscrewed this, and then put my hand in the wires...my Mum got us out of there to a new house not long afterwards, The pottery jar; with Drury Lane on could be just possibly; from Sainsbury's VERY FIRST shop on Drury Lane, if it was it would be of value

[@sylwiaj.4386]

Mary Ann Franklin Sentence term: 7 years Ship: Asia 1 Departure date: 9th March, 1847 Arrival date: 21st July, 1847 Place of arrival Van Diemen's Land Passenger manifest Travelled with 168 other convicts

[@rovhalt6650]

Any way to trace her modern ancestors? Would be cool to send that badge back to them.

[@bluebelluk]

I'm not sure this is the same person. In the video above she reads the prison record which notes Mary was pardoned in 1845 so it's unlikely that she would end up on a convict ship (unless she committed another crime after release?). Also if you look at the convict records for Tasmania the Mary Ann Franklin that arrived in July 1847 was 26 years old. The forget-me-not token shows she was 10 years old when in the London prison in 1844. Also re the Tasmanian convict records, the Mary Ann that arrived there was tried/convicted in CC (I'm assuming means Central Court?) on 23 Nov 1846 and was from Hackneys. The Mary A on the token I would assume was from Oxfordshire as she was sentenced in Banbury. All that said I could be wrong - I'm new to playing detective! :o)

[@dramaticteaspoon]

@@bluebelluk Couldn't she have commited another 'crime' in the two years between being pardoned and transported? Likely given her parents' circumstances were likely the same.

[@formulafish1536]

And I today live on Van Diemen's Land. However, instead of being Hell on Earth, it is the most naturally beautiful state of Australia. However, we suffer from our State Government not caring about us, our local council's not caring about us, and the federal government only caring about the North of Tasmania because the marginal seats are there. basically screwing half of the population...

[@formulafish1536]

@R I If we're mentioning Victoria, I am obligated as a Tasmania to remind you that without us you will still be New South Wales. Basically convicts escaped Van Diemen's Land and formed Victoria. Not long after gold was discovered in Ballarat, and the rest is history.

[@Gary_Daytona]

The Mary Franklin forget me not token story was fascinating, not at all hampered by being a contemporary creation. Someone went to a great deal of research and time creating it for someone to find, and just the right people did. Seven years for a 10 year old who was likely forced into pilfering a loaf of bread is almost unimaginable in this day and time. Thanks for sharing all your amazing stories, and Marry Christmas and Happy New Year, looking forward to a new year of tideline adventures!

[@nicolawhitemudlark]

Thank you very much Gary. Really appreciate your thoughts on this. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you too. Nicola

[@dyanekward6346]

Not sure anyone else mentioned, but your wooden piece with the pin through it appears to be part of a boat rudder. I ADORE your research into the copper plaque! Hideous to think that starving children could be imprisoned by government officials for stealing bread!! Ugh, Charles Dickens exposed so much in his stories!! I just LOVE watching your videos...!! Very soothing. (I especially enjoy watching them at night whilst trying to relax to sleep) Thank you so much!!

[@albundy8919]

nobody ever disappears completely. what a beautiful thought. well said!😃

[@JD-pz3bo]

The jelly mould is a cover for a light switch

[@cynhanrahan4012]

Watching Nicola and friends mudlarking 2 days after christmas, hoping to distract myself from the holiday blues, Mary Franklin made me cry.

[@marleybu7984]

Mary Ann Franklin, I hope you had a good life. You will.never be forgotten now.

[@motorhomeless]

Nicola, I love your videos and your finds (especially clay pipes) and Bill and Si as well ! I believe that piece of wood with the nail is from the hull planking of a large boat or a ship, judging by its double ended nature. The nails were driven through the planking and then a small washer, known as a "rose" I believe, was hammered down on the inside of the ship. You might think of it as sort of a cold rivet. Keep up the great work!

[@danafredrickson9718]

the muffin mans coffee mug!! he lives on drury lane!!!

[@TheLadyDiazepam]

One of the things I did when I visited London was visit places I knew from songs. There was Drury Lane, home of the Muffin Man. Stepney & Knightsbridge from the Rolling Stones' song "Playing with Fire"--"She gets her kicks in Stepney, not in Knightsbridge anymore." I went to Sloane Square because of Morrissey's song "Hairdresser on Fire."

[@user-zl7mu4wh1f]

I didn't even know this existed, how fascinating to find all these things just washed up!

[@Jazzwayze]

Nicola. I believe the nameplate of the long lost sailor, might well be the nameplate from the man's 'hat-box'. I was issued with one of these when I joined HMS Ganges in September 1954, at age fifteen. These boxes were quite bulky and took up a lot of room in your kit-bag. Many of them wound up 'over the side'! Best of luck ad a happy Christmas. Bless the memory of Mary Franklin. A message for so many 'complainers' of the present day.

[@cdayperry2701]

You and friends are crazy fun. Thank you!

[@grahamcurtis5512]

Well Nicola What a story.That was a shock to me as I am a direct descendant of the Frankins from Banbury. I have not found a direct link to The Mary A who was jailed yet!! My Franklins were all Tailors in Banbury in the 1800's, So perhaps its just a coincidence as Mary's Family sound a rough lot I will do a bit more research and see where it goes. Merry Christmas Love the video's

[@k.w.churchill4397]

I lost my Dad on Dec 21st [1989] and my son on Dec 23rd [1995].....Its taken until the last couple years to start feeling joy around the holidays.

[@lucybow3751]

Mary you will always be remembered

[@JungleJayAdventures]

I was going to say that the forget me not token had the pattern of an electric handheld engraver, so it got me thinking how would they have done it like that so long ago lol. I use one to mark my tools.

[@MrKmoconne]

I thought the same thing about the engraving. It may not be that old but it definitely wasn't made to be a false item. I do believe it was made as a memorial item to the child mentioned. Maybe a school had a project to remember the victims of injustice and threw them in the Thames in the 1960s.

[@tinasloan172]

@@MrKmoconne I wondered the same thing.

[@Trojwaterman]

Yes I have used one of those vibrating engravers they are awful. I also have engraved by hand and machine. The old engraving was mostly done by hand or with an engraver that follows letter templates.

[@IcelanderUSer]

John Doe Had you Seen the end you would have found out the forget me not wasn’t real. It was created by an artist. So yes it was engraved by an electric engraver. Very Strange art project, one that seems quite disingenuous. But we did learn about

[@chubbyroyston3880]

I knew that was a fake as soon as I saw it

[@poppydoodles8514]

Thank you for your sensitivity, Nicola. I look forward to all your future videos in 2019.

[@larry-yu7qh]

Thanks for sending love to those who are alone this Christmas in your greeting towards the end of the video. It's Christmas night here and yours are the only kind words I've heard all day. It's very much appreciated Nicola - I send love back to you.

[@nicolawhitemudlark]

Hi Larry, I hope you had a good Christmas. Here's to a good 2019. Love from London xxx

[@debspils1091]

Hi Larry, I do so wish yu a happier mood at this time. I DO know how intense feelings of loneliness and isolation can be at Christmas time but....know that love and best wishes and hopeful prayers are being sent for you and your dear heart. Lovingly, Deb in Utah USA

[@michaelduty6068]

I love all your hunts. Please keep them coming. You gorgeous lady

[@tony68mc]

The button is the Order of the Garter. The shape of the crown dates it to be early Victorian (the shape changed to a more rounded crown in later years). The initials in the centre could be the persons name, or represent the land they own (such as something like BQ could be the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry for example). Nice find.

[@Glorindellen]

or it could be from a military unit. one similar but not identical belongs to the Coldstream Guards

[@DRBloomber]

3:41 The Muffin Man’s Coffee Mug!!!!

[@alisade127]

Nic, you have helped Mary live on. It’s truly special.

[@dudeomondo]

Thank you KZbin for suggesting this channel!...the odd bit of stamped metal is probably a part of a lamp...cheers

[@mim0381]

"...marked by pilfering encouraged by her parents.." more likely starvation 🙄

[@houngrysdigest1525]

The poor will always be punished. Every society does it.

[@LambentLark]

@@houngrysdigest1525 you mean lile the squatters that move into empty houses and then wreck the place The owner has to hire a lawyer then to get the squatters evicted. Eventually the home owner gets foreclosed on because he can't rent it out in order to pay the mortgage? Yep, those poor homeless people. All they want is a nice place to live for free. There is more than the, "poor underprivileged impoverished persons" story. They are one part of a society. Being poor isn't a crime in our modern society. Being poor does put you in a position they are more likely to turn to crime. The Draconian laws Mary had to live in are a thing of the past. The problems we have today are much more complex and only have a chance of being rectified by people that can identify and comprehend all aspect of the situation and be fair to all. We haven't found anyone with those qualifications, so we still got problems. I don't have the answers either. I just know to find them we have to look at it as part of the whole, not a disconnected problem. We have to look at truths, even the one that don't support our beliefs.

[@dodibenabba1378]

@@LambentLark Wow introducing Major Trigger!

[@vicvalente4874]

that is really cool, her in the US we often hunt rivers for native american artifacts.

[@357lockdown]

Amazing how tough they were on children back in the day.

[@GeorgiaGrowGuy]

I cannot imagine a 10 year old child sent to prison for stealing bread. What a truly awful society that people had to live in just a few short generations ago. Thanks for taking the time to provide the history of your finds, to me that is so much more interesting.

[@dougzirkle5951]

You’re rocking that tinsel!! Merry Christmas! Thank you for another thought provoking video.

[@rickarnett8758]

Found my way via Chill Bill and Aquachigger...lovely channel...keep it up!

[@garethmason9255]

Another Mudlarking video I thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you to you Nicola and sharp eyed Sifinds for finding the memory plate.. Regards

[@ryandavis7593]

Thank you so much for a lovely story. Art or fact, the truth is a real person suffering extreme poverty was further brutalized by a system lacking in the simple word compassion. Interestingly the word used for the Good Samaritans reaction, compassion, is translated from the Ancient Greek splunknah. Splunknah is a word with a greater reaction than mere compassion. Splunknah literally means to have ones guts tied in knots. This is a far cry from mere compassion, or to pity someone. Splunknah compels one to act even if it is imprudent. When I worked in the inner city of Kansas City Missouri as a clerk in a convenience store, a ten year old boy came in and asked to make a phone call. His mother has thrown him out in the middle of a sub freezing night. He called his grandmother who said that it was not her problem. I had him lay down on our news paper rack and covered him with my coat and the previous day’s papers. He fell asleep there. I had no choice but to call the police who got social services involved. Lord I hope he made it out. Lovely piece. Change the world if you can, from the high plains of Texas.

[@cplatter38]

Merry Christmas Nicoli from the great state of Alaska! I love watching your videos, as well as Si and Clem...mudlarking the Thames is a dream of mine... have a wonderful holiday from my family to yours!

[@pastexpiry2013B]

Funny how the stories behind these items are interesting, and I still don't know the names of my appartment neighbours.

[@jhuntosgarage]

Probably a good thing. Be careful what you wish for. 😉

[@ClayDress]

If you really want to know, read their mail. That should probably work.

[@theresagilmore7856]

@@ClayDress 🤪🤣

[@richardpierce45]

Thank you for such a great video so much historic information plus the personal story's. Even the poor old rotting boat has a story to tell. Thank you old father Thames and thank you for your videos. You have inspired me to look into and take up the hobbie myself thank you once again.

[@nicolawhitemudlark]

Great. Good luck Richard.

[@normplatt7549]

Outstanding! Merry Christmas old Bean

[@thedrifterr]

Merry Christmas and wishing you good luck with some special finds in 2019

[@mi1964amigo]

The 'jelly mould' looks like the outside of a bell push.

[@robertburleyson7444]

I love how you bring the artifacts to life! God speed in your adventures!