A mudlarking year

For over two decades, Lara Maiklem has scoured the banks of the tidal Thames looking for objects – lost or discarded – that tell forgotten stories. In this sequel to ‘Mudlarking’, Lara reflects on life lived post-pandemic, widens her search beyond the river and reminds us that it’s possible to draw meaning in the most unlikely of places. As she slowly searches the foreshore through the changing seasons, she is at times aided by the gentle illumination of the falling winter sun or hindered by bright summer skies and lashing rain. Yet, by working in harmony with the unpredictable terrain, she finds solace in aligning with the elements and uncovering the treasures that are bestowed by the tide. From medieval pilgrim badges, Tudor love tokens and Victorian pottery, each passing day unearths ordinary and extraordinary objects that tell the rich story of London’s past and its inhabitants.