Southwark Cathedral is delighted to announce the appointment of bestselling author and renowned Thames mudlark Lara Maiklem as its first Mudlark-in-Residence, creating what is believed to be the UK’s only permanent mudlarking role within a cultural or heritage organisation.
Southwark Cathedral appoints first Mudlark-in-Residence
Lara Maiklem (also known as ‘The London Mudlark’ to her 350k+ online following) has been mudlarking on the River Thames for almost 25 years.
She is the author of four books on the subject, including the Sunday Times bestseller Mudlarking: Lost and Found on the River Thames (Bloomsbury, 2019). Maiklem has worked closely with Southwark Cathedral since 2019, contributing to its programme of exhibitions, talks, tours and public events celebrating the history of and revealed by the Thames foreshore.
Over the past six years, Lara has become a significant figure within the Cathedral community. She has played a central role in the annual Heritage Craft and Mudlarking Festival and led fundraising foreshore walks in support of the Cathedral. She also established and curates the Cathedral’s permanent free-to-view mudlarking exhibition alongside fellow mudlark Flora Spiegel.
The exhibition cases, located at the Cathedral entrance, feature one permanent collection and another regularly changing display 2 of 3 showcasing the finds of a different mudlark each month.
Lara was recently featured as a guest on the Southwark Cathedral podcast, where she discussed her work mudlarking on the Thames and her long-standing connection with the Cathedral: Listen to the episode.
As Mudlark-in-Residence, Lara will continue to develop the Cathedral’s relationship with the river and its history. This will include supporting public engagement programming that connects with the heritage and stories found from the Thames.
Lara Maiklem said:
“I’ve so enjoyed bringing mudlarking to Southwark over the last seven years, and being made Mudlark in Residence really is a great honour. Being so close to the river, the Cathedral is where mudlarking belongs and I’m looking forward to working with the wonderful Cathedral team to continue the exhibitions, talks, tours and festivals that have put Southwark Cathedral at the heart of the mudlarking community.”
The Very Revd Dr Mark Oakley, Dean of Southwark, said:
“For more than 1,400 years people have arrived here by river, worshipped beside it, traded across it and crossed it on journeys of pilgrimage. Even our ancient name, St Mary Overie – St Mary ‘over the river’ – reminds us how deeply Southwark Cathedral’s identity is bound to the life of the Thames.
Lara’s work helps us to connect to our riverine past, enabling us to see the humanity behind the objects that are found on the foreshore. She has become a cherished friend of the Cathedral and we are delighted to recognise her continued contribution through this appointment.”
The appointment comes as Southwark Cathedral prepares to host its sixth annual Heritage Craft and Mudlarking Festival on Saturday 25 July.
The festival will bring together mudlarks, craftspeople, archaeologists, antiquarians, and authors for a day of demonstrations, talks, exhibitions and family activities. Visitors will be able to explore traditional heritage crafts, learn about fascinating objects recovered from the Thames foreshore, and meet experts on London’s riverside history.
The full programme will be announced in due course, with tickets now on sale from Eventbrite here.
IMAGE CREDIT: Tom Harrison
