Mudlarking on the Thames

A Film Documentary

We worked with Year 6, St. Francis of Assisi Primary School in Notting Hill. They have been learning about mudlarking on the River Thames. In the past, mudlarks collected London's waste to sell for survival. Today, mudlarks reveal the secrets of London's past by collecting the rubbish discarded by the people who once lived in our city before us.

Working with Westminster Archives and RBKC Archives and Local Studies the children learnt about the history of mudlarking, developed questions to ask mudlarkers, visited the Secrets of the Thames exhibition at the Museum of London Docklands and interviewed three mudlarkers and the museum exhibition's curator. They then visited the foreshore with Thames Explorer Trust and some seasoned mudlarkers.

This film is the result of their interviews and visits.

We are grateful to Cory for financially supporting this project.

Visit the project website