Mudlarking Finds from the Time of the Mayflower

Did you know that the birth of the United States of America began on the River Thames in London?

- Jason Sandy

In 1606, English colonists departed in three ships on the Thames in Blackwall (London) to start a new colony in Jamestown, Virginia, which would become the first permanent British settlement in North America. Several years later in 1620, the Mayflower ship (Fig.1) set sail on the Thames in Rotherhithe (London) on its historic voyage to the New World. These two momentous events established permanent British colonies in America which would eventually grow to become one of the most powerful and influential nations in the world. The River Thames was centre stage for these pivotal moments in world history.

400 Year Anniversary

This year is the 400 year anniversary of the departure of the Mayflower from London on its historic voyage to America. While searching the exposed riverbed of the Thames in London, mudlarks have found many extraordinary artefacts from the 17th century which tell previously unheard stories of the people who lived in London at that time. Some of these are spectacular finds, as well as everyday objects and personal items which they left behind. Shipbuilding tools, cannonballs, musket balls, padlocks, clay pipes, buttons, buckles, leather shoes, pottery, bottle seals, cloth seals, coins, tokens, rings, knives, children’s toys and many other artefacts have been found.