Thames Mudlarking Permits Resumed with New Restrictions
Interest in mudlarking on the River Thames surged between 2019 and 2022, prompting the suspension of permits. The Port of London Authority will reissue permits with a cap of 4,000, valid for one year without automatic renewals. An exhibition at the London Museum next April will showcase mudlarking finds.
Interest in mudlarking on the River Thames foreshore in London surged between 2019 and 2022, leading the Port of London Authority (PLA) to suspend permits in 2022 to protect the site's integrity.
Now, permits are being reissued with a cap of 4,000, valid for one year without automatic renewals.
Applications for the waiting list open on 2 October.
Consultations with the Crown Estate, London Museum, and Historic England informed these changes, aimed at balancing accessibility with conservation.
Permits cover the area between Teddington Lock and the Thames Barrier, with certain historic sites excluded.
Finds must be reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme, preserving an archaeological record.
The London Museum will host an exhibition, Secrets of the Thames: Mudlarking London’s Lost Treasures, next April.
Now, permits are being reissued with a cap of 4,000, valid for one year without automatic renewals.
Applications for the waiting list open on 2 October.
Consultations with the Crown Estate, London Museum, and Historic England informed these changes, aimed at balancing accessibility with conservation.
Permits cover the area between Teddington Lock and the Thames Barrier, with certain historic sites excluded.
Finds must be reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme, preserving an archaeological record.
The London Museum will host an exhibition, Secrets of the Thames: Mudlarking London’s Lost Treasures, next April.
