River Thames Trip - 2 Days...

[CRUSADER]

I've had a standard permit for the Thames Foreshore for some years but I have only had about 3 previous 1 hour sessions. Therefore I wanted to give it a proper go & try the metal detector as well. I had a 2 day effort with just over 5 hours hunting time. The first day I tried the detector & after only getting modern coins, I decided to go back to what works best for me - scrapping. Not with the nearest stone this time but a proper trowel
Nothing outstanding was found but it was a fun experience & I need much more local knowledge to get any better

Lots of Elizabethian handmade dress Pins. (some come out like gold but then quickly change colour in the air)
Typing blocks
Clay Pipes
My first 1/2 of a Medieval Floor Tile
Selection of Medieval & other Pot Shards
Leather Shoe pieces including an early looking kids shoe & a dockers hobnail heel with nails
My Fav find - perfect condition mid-19th C (maybe a bit earlier) Earthenware Glazed Pot - no idea of function. I spotted the rim peaking out of an under cut bank at over a foot deep.

 

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[Iron Patch]

I'd try that the odd time because the condition can be great, so just a matter of it being applied to the right find.

 

[Taranis]

I read from Temze researchers, may be interesting! This many pipes...
Congrats Cru!
Sorry, the river is in my language is Temze of course Thames!​

 

[CRUSADER]

I'd try that the odd time because the condition can be great, so just a matter of it being applied to the right find.

The very reason I went, because even a relatively common find might come out the best I have, & thats always worth a punt. Although I feel like a fish out of water, only time can heal.

 

[Iron Patch]

I've bought a few things found there but this was the best... a rare and valuable George II counterfeit. The current owner describes it as "1740 6.8G. AU? CHOICE, CHOC BRN. VERY CRUDE REV. ABOUT AS STRUCK? EX RARE DATE" I know of many other incredible finds and I'm not even someone that pays a lot of attention to what is being found there. It must be insane what that river gives up.

 

[CRUSADER]

I've bought a few things found there but this was the best... a rare and valuable George II counterfeit. The current owner describes it as "1740 6.8G. AU? CHOICE, CHOC BRN. VERY CRUDE REV. ABOUT AS STRUCK? EX RARE DATE" I know of many other incredible finds and I'm not even someone that pays a lot of attention to what is being found there. It must be insane what that river gives up.

Good coin, the Thames is just full of stuff, but I'm restricted to only digging 75mm. The mudlarks can dig 1.5 metres, so they get the best shot at it, along with most of the riverbank which is out of bounds for me. They do earn it though by have a close relationship with the BM, donating thousands of finds. Good behaviour gets rewarded in London, its a win/win.

 

[PikesPeakCharlie]

Nice finds !!!! I was in London back in the early 70s when I was 8 & 9 years old. I remember looking down at the Thames ,beside the Tower of London & from the Tower Bridge I tried to get down to the bank, but unfortunatly My mother got me by the collar and that was the end of that ! Even then I was looking at the ground .

 

[Iron Patch]

Good coin, the Thames is just full of stuff, but I'm restricted to only digging 75mm. The mudlarks can dig 1.5 metres, so they get the best shot at it, along with most of the riverbank which is out of bounds for me. They do earn it though by have a close relationship with the BM, donating thousands of finds. Good behaviour gets rewarded in London, its a win/win.

It's a very strange concept to me thinking about a river being off limits, but obviously it's very different there and they have their reasons. I've told Shaun once or twice to get swinging there.

 

[CRUSADER]

Nice finds !!!! I was in London back in the early 70s when I was 8 & 9 years old. I remember looking down at the Thames ,beside the Tower of London & from the Tower Bridge I tried to get down to the bank, but unfortunatly My mother got me by the collar and that was the end of that ! Even then I was looking at the ground .

Shame, I was similar, but normally got away.
I was not far from Tower Bridge, maybe a couple of Bridges West.

 

[Newfiehunter]

Hey Crusader.....

How did you find the clay pipes? Were they just on the ground? They say you can date a site just with those pipes. Apparently, clay pipes designs changed often. I have some archaeology books and often designs changed from decade to decade and archaeologist can date a site with very good accuracy. I'd like to find some pipes, but don't know where or how to look...Thanks...

 

[CRUSADER]

It's a very strange concept to me thinking about a river being off limits, but obviously it's very different there and they have their reasons. I've told Shaun once or twice to get swinging there.

There are only a couple of small areas that are totally off limits. The Mudlarks have Full Permits to dig most off the North Side, so only off limits to me as a Standard Permit Holder. I respect thier judgement on who can do it, as it weeds out the dishonest & rewards those that work with the British Museum. Also its very dangerous, & we need to weed out the stupid as well. Shuan would be better off leaving the detector at home, its just hardly worth it, although I'm sure there must be some areas that can be detected OK.

 

[CRUSADER]

Hey Crusader.....

How did you find the clay pipes? Were they just on the ground? They say you can date a site just with those pipes. Apparently, clay pipes designs changed often. I have some archaeology books and often designs changed from decade to decade and archaeologist can date a site with very good accuracy. I'd like to find some pipes, but don't know where or how to look...Thanks...

Half of the pipe collection was on the surface & the others I scrapped up from a dark black layer of a midden.(included lots of animal bones)

 

[shaun7]

Look at all that stuff I bet the time goes even quicker doing that!!

 

[wwwtimmcp]

I too was a river rat, I knew every log in the river and brought home tons of stuff. my mom and dad would cringe every time I came home because they never knew what I was bringing with me. I dug a homemade boat out of a sandbar and dragged it home with me. I would love to become a mudlark in the thames. thanks for sharing crusader.

 

[CRUSADER]

I too was a river rat, I knew every log in the river and brought home tons of stuff. my mom and dad would cringe every time I came home because they never knew what I was bringing with me. I dug a homemade boat out of a sandbar and dragged it home with me. I would love to become a mudlark in the thames. thanks for sharing crusader.

If it were on my doorstep I would be as well. But it's a fair trip (& expense) compared to my local fields.

 

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

Sure seems like a lot of stuff in 5 hours without a tector. Heck I got 3 coins today with one, and thought I did OK.

 

[oldsalty19]

 

[Silver Searcher]

Good coin, the Thames is just full of stuff, but I'm restricted to only digging 75mm. The mudlarks can dig 1.5 metres, so they get the best shot at it, along with most of the riverbank which is out of bounds for me. They do earn it though by have a close relationship with the BM, donating thousands of finds. Good behaviour gets rewarded in London, its a win/win.

It's called elitism, anywere else anybody would be able to do it.

 

[oldsoapy]

I've had a standard permit for the Thames Foreshore for some years but I have only had about 3 previous 1 hour sessions. Therefore I wanted to give it a proper go & try the metal detector as well. I had a 2 day effort with just over 5 hours hunting time. The first day I tried the detector & after only getting modern coins, I decided to go back to what works best for me - scrapping. Not with the nearest stone this time but a proper trowel
Nothing outstanding was found but it was a fun experience & I need much more local knowledge to get any better

Lots of Elizabethian handmade dress Pins. (some come out like gold but then quickly change colour in the air)
Typing blocks
Clay Pipes
My first 1/2 of a Medieval Floor Tile
Selection of Medieval & other Pot Shards
Leather Shoe pieces including an early looking kids shoe & a dockers hobnail heel with nails
My Fav find - perfect condition mid-19th C (maybe a bit earlier) Earthenware Glazed Pot - no idea of function. I spotted the rim peaking out of an under cut bank at over a foot deep.

I tried it on an organised trip in the 70s : mostly used a fork and sieve as there were multiple signals everywhere : The London boys do much the same but they use very small search coils to try and get in between the signals. l would love to go again sometime. Looks like you had a good time. Hutch.

 

[CRUSADER]

I tried it on an organised trip in the 70s : mostly used a fork and sieve as there were multiple signals everywhere : The London boys do much the same but they use very small search coils to try and get in between the signals. l would love to go again sometime. Looks like you had a good time. Hutch.

You can't use the new powerful detectors. I used what others use, old style with 4 inch coil