A Mudlark's Treasures

London in Fragments

By: Ted Sandling, Iain Sinclair - afterword

Narrated by: Ted Sandling

Length: 5 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

Mudlarking enthusiast Ted Sandling takes us on a riveting journey along the Thames foreshore and back into the past.

"A beautiful book." (Daily Mail)

"Exhilaratingly curious." (Evening Standard)

"Gripping.'" (Spectator)

Mudlarking, the act of searching the Thames foreshore for items of value, has a long tradition in London. In the late 18th and 19th centuries, mudlarks were small boys grubbing a living from scrap. Modern-day mudlark Ted Sandling shares his passion for unearthing relics of the past from the banks of the Thames and describes his 50 most evocative finds. From Roman tiles to elegant Georgian pottery, these objects create a mosaic of everyday London life through the centuries, touching on the journeys, pleasures, vices and industries of a world city. This book celebrates the beauty of small things, and the intangible connection that found objects give us to the past.

The Thames presents treasures with a delightful serendipity: it gives up a hundred random objects, and it is up to the finder to discover their stories. That is the joy of mudlarking: that after every trip to the river you know more than you did before. Chance connections with something that was once treasured, that was once lost and has now been found again. Even the meanest broken fragments tells a story of this great city.

©2016 Ted Sandling (P)2021 Aurum

Wonderful!

Ted Sandling has written a lovely book. Though it helps to have a copy of the book with photos of the items he describes, it isn't really necessary because his descriptions are so enchanting. His narration is superb.

London's Own History by the Mudlark Himself

Mr. Ted Sandling is the perfect narrator of London's history, as he expertly and intimately knows each piece of it he has found along the Thames foreshore. Not only that, but his is the perfect voice for this history because it draws you in, yearning to know more. The weaving of the words presents a rich tapestry that makes you long to join Mr. Sandling along the foreshore, with the proper permits, of course. (This is a revised edition of his previous book that is updated with pertinent details and more description.)

If you are pining to travel to the capital city, listening to this book will give you the sense that you are standing in the mud in your wellies, with eyes trained to find humble objects that become treasures when you understand their story. You may find fossils, pottery, glass, pins -- a myriad of reminders of everyday life. With Ted Sandling by your side, it will be a wonderful mudlark's adventure.

Highly recommend.

Wonderful

The writing is very good. Reminds me of Peter Wohlleben, except instead of hidden trees it is old refuse in Thames mud. Never know what will wash up for the taking from 2,000 years of history. The book is essential IMO for the pictures which descriptions in audio do not capture (taking 1 star for not including a PDF). The audio is essential for the reading by Sandling, who like Wohlleben has a gentle voice. A guide to a new world.

For all would be mudlarkers!

As a committed armchair mudlarker I loved the stories behind each small piece of history.