A Big Handful of Muddy History - Mudlarking the River Thames with Nicola White 

It's so nice of you to video the birds, Nicola. They're mudlarking the foreshore, too. I sense that you see them as explorers, too.

I look forward to these videos every Sunday.

Hi Nicola its Sunday and I must confess I've been hooked for quite some time. I don't profess to be hooked on hooks but I think your hook is an item of stevedoring equipment and could have been used on a ship's derrick or a shore crane discharging cargo particularly cotton /wool bales or gunnies. The Thames had many series of Docks and Wharfs along its length. My last visit to the Thames on a ship was as Second Mate on a British ship called the Manchester Faith on charter to the Israeli Citrus board, we discharged Oranges lemons and Grapefruit at Butlers Wharf just below Tower Bridge ,in I'm guessing1960.My wife came by train from Plymouth to meet me and we stayed for the weekend at the then new London Hilton in Mayfair....because of a series of mistakes by the hotel we ended up in a Suite not the double room we had booked, We later learned that the previous occupant was Roy Orbison of "Pretty Woman " fame

Hi Nicola having known the Woolwich/Greenwich area of the Thames in the 60's and 70's in is so wonderful to see the return of wildlife. For so many years the Thames was an open sewer, it warms my heart to see the birds and fish in your videos. Please keep them coming, I look forward to your latest video each Sunday.

Yes another mudlarking video from Nicola! They make Sundays a lot happier in these awful times. Thank you x

The hook would make a wonderful coat hook, planter hook in the garden. And when you showed your glass fish, I thought how lovely it would be to see a window like a lead glass window pane or sun catcher made with the fish designs incorporated. Anyway, as always another great Sunday with you. Thank you.

The swan's descent is about like my life, fighting the winds and the waves and PLAT I hit on the water. Miraculously I float, Ihrow my head back and hold it up high, fluff my feathers and carry on. Isn't it just like life!!! Thank you for another lovely journey and find.

I‘m waiting for a hip replacement and can‘t walk atm. Your videos take me out of the house and are very enjoyable, thanks. I‘ve got an allotment which is sitting on the old town dump where I have been finding bits over the years and I always thought that I‘m weird for picking them up, but thanks to your videos I feel quite normal now 😁 I love that hook btw. It would make a nice feature in a rustic kitchen.

My new vocabulary addition: Brimbleling! Do have a fondness for the industrial bits. The hook may have been used by a stevedore to grab bale straps when unloading a ship.

Totally addicted to watching your videos. Being a Floridian I’ve treasure hunted on the beach all my life. The things you find and the history .. just amazing. I’ve learn so much and love your voice.

Your horse hoof pipe is beautiful and the patina makes it look very realistic.

Pipe extractions never get old - always such a nice feeling of anticipation.

The music and the birds at the end seemed like a well-choreographed ballet. You have a lovely sense of style. A real artist. Thank you.

Hi Nicola, I love finding you on the telly. Love the wildlife, the ocean, the treasures, thankyou girl! Julie

I enjoy watching you collect little and LARGE pieces of history and treasure. 🕊🙏🕊🙏🕊🙏🕊

Great finds! I love the hook! The ending bit with the swans and the music had me in tears, but in a GOOD way. Nature just grabs me by the heart and doesn't let go. Sending love and a hug to you and all who read this!

The horse pipe story was magnificent. It’s so nice when your the first to touch a pipe in so many years. Fabulous video Nicola. Keep safe !

Sunday’s just don’t come quick enough Nicola , we need a daily fix of your wonderful finds xx

I loved the sound effects for the birds splash landing. And as always the clay pipes.

Congratulations on finding your horse hoof! I remember that first envious conversation with Ted. Your collection keeps growing. As always, your video was enlightening and inspiring. Loved that turn of phrase about the shoal of fish. You made me smile.

Love accompanying you on your foraging! And the "mirror dance" of the swans at the end!

You have a good sense of humor. No wonder people like spending time with you.

Love the water front scenes can smell and feel the breeze so peaceful

Your videos are so calming and today you were in rare form! I love your humor. Thank you, for taking us along.

Wouldn’t be Sunday morning without your channel 😊 just the greatest!❤️

Nic I think Si would say that you have some Great “Luck in the Muck” this day! Really fantastic finds!!

Such a lovely swan pas de deux at the end, thank you for including their ritual.

Lovely as usual! The swans were an extra treat. You’ve got me hooked on all the British mudlarking vloggers! Thanks for keeping my mind off the troubles. I appreciate you so much!

That bottle is an absolute stunner and so is the ring - always intriguing to see jewellery, so much personal history attached.... how did it end up in the Thames you wonder! Looking forward to reading Ted's book... it's waiting on the shelf :)

Hello my friend across the pond!! I’ve anxiously awaited this week’s video. And as usual you did not disappoint!!!! I’m totally enthralled with the horse hoof pipe!!! I personally think yours is even better because the burning of it has given such a richness of color that makes it appear almost real. The hairs are more visible it seems. I’m drooling over the new fish you’re working on. I would love to own one. My sweet Daddy’s nickname was “ Fishing Fool”. He was a self-taught artist and had painted a tag for the front of his truck with a fisherman in a boat and “Fishing Fool” at the bottom. When he passed away in 2015 at 85 years old, the funeral home had the tag copied and made to go in the top of his casket. When we were cleaning out his art studio after he passed, I found a green glass bottle shaped like a fish and now every time I see yours, I’m reminded of him. Thank you for that! Didn’t mean to go off track but I wanted you to know how your work touches people in ways you don’t even realize. Take care sweet Nicola! Love from DeeAnn in GA 🇺🇸

Always a pleasure to come along on your hunts sweet Nicola!👍

Fabulous Clay pipe in the shape of horse's hoof. So much beauty and mystery as you look out at the foreshore. Just listen to the night sounds as the sun goes down along the river Thames. Somehow you get a feeling of nostalgia for times long ago.

Lol the Swan looks so graceful but lands like a bomb that's why I love your videos not just the wonderful treasures you find but your stunning wildlife captures thank you for another amazing virtual mud lark I love the horse pipe so intricate

As usual Nicola, your wonderful video brightens my dull afternoon, (still locked down/up).

The music and the swans at the end were just mesmerizing! A beautiful swan dance if you will.

What a lovely swan dance at the end!!!

I love your enthusiasm, and joy when discovering a find : )

25:48 - Ah, that's why I love history and especially archeology - you get to discover and handle things that were last touched by a human being, 300, 600, 2000 years ago - I have seen you guys pull Roman era pottery from the Thames foreshore, with the finger and thumbprints of the potter that made them - that is a powerful connection to that person that made that pottery - and you know, he/she had the same feelings that we have - had the same problems that we have (and probably far more formidable problems that we have) - and had the same aspirations that we have - yet he/she lived 2000 years ago. When you realize that - when you really understand that - you are transported out of your own narrow minded and small view of this world - and realize there is an enormous history behind not just each of us, as individuals, but of our entire species and our entire planet -

Another Happy Sunday watching your video, Nicola, relaxing, and peaceful. I was waiting for the swans at the end to intertwine themselves the way they were carrying on. Have a great week and I'll look forward ro next Sunday. Neil,

Beautiful video and music. Such great finds! Didn’t realize how little it took to get bitten by a mudlarking bug! Always enjoy a day out. Thank you for the history and beautiful day. Take care. 🦋

Ahoi Captain Nicola! You have a hook, a big blue shark, a lot of glass fish, a pipe ... you are missing a boat and a hat! One day you will have all this because you deserve it! Good luck!

Wow Nicola, the intro with the Swans was fantastic.

You’re such a pleasure to watch Nicola. Calming and fun. Thank you.

As always - Soothing background music, water fowl, interesting "finds" and an informative wrap-up. It must be Nicola White our mudlarking muse. Cheers from across the pond ! Thanks again

Always lovely to escape with you to the Foreshore!

The best videos around. The bird shots are so beautiful and it’s great to see the buildings and bridges. Your words are clear and can be understood so well. That was a long, long pipe stem! Happy to see any videos you share. 🦢👍🏻

Loved the crash landing bit in the beginning. LOL!!! The hoof pipe was beautiful. Great finds. Also I really enjoyed hearing how the gentleman got bit by the bug.

You make my Sunday’s special.

I get so excited on Sundays because most of my favorite mudlarkers debut new videos! (I say most because I always look forward to Chill Bill on Saturday too!)

Awesome day for you young lady and stay blessed and see you again on the next episode and the interview with your friend.👍🙏

Always watching....always appreciating all the effort lovely lady.......Kindest regards from the Bay of Islands New Zealand :]

The swan dance is so beautiful and graceful, so relaxing. Thanks again for a great video Nicola! Aka Chris Ellis

Hiya Nicola so happy to see your video pop up , I’ll have something to watch while I recoup from colon cancer surgery. Hope the days finds are great and you have a great week

Such a delightful video. The findings were fantastic and the swans, oh my gosh, those beautiful swans, were fabulous. Thank you.

Another wonderful explore and treasure hunt. The horse hoof pipe was probably my favorite find, but I enjoy all the items you collect from the mud. I would love at least one day along the Thames looking for treasures, it's on my bucket list. Thank you for sharing the beautiful birds as well as the history along the Thames. Please, stay safe and healthy!

Your channel has it all. Nature...sense of humor ..so much creatively and oh yes all the treasures and history!!!

Thank you for a lovely time on the Thames

Nice mudlark! I (Gail) am jealous of the hook, I love things like that for some reason. The pipe is fab and also the ring. Rings are so personal and really do make you think of who it belonged to and the story behind it xx

Swans won that video! Amazing they are so white in all that muddy water. Good finds too🙂

I find your videos very exciting & the history you save is fantastic. Keep making them please. I have metal detected for over 20 years with thousands of finds from coins to bottles & many relics from the goldfields & Army camps from WWII. Cheers, Pete from North Queensland Australia.

Nice recovery by the swan! That horse hoof pipe is amazing, the different designs, shapes and most of all the history of clay pipes, its easy to see why one can get so involved in them.

Thank you Nicola. How lovely !💕

Nicola, Sunday, coffee, and watching you. Love it.

Thank you Nicola for yet another adventure in the mud. Hook looks somewhat medieval. Lifting a knight in full armor onto his charger or something. Makes me want to watch the court jester... Get it? Got it. Good!

Those clay pipe makers were certainly a creative bunch with the intricate designs and attention to detail they had while making them. That huge metal hook was serious business, reminded me of the antagonist in that horror movie "I Know what you did Last Summer:

Love your new pipe finds as always Nicola! The horses hoof was great! Clay pipes are always interesting! And a ring! Very pretty! 😊❤

I Love the swans and music....Just Beautiful....

Thank you for your video today. I really needed the visit today. I am feeling better after watching. Starting with the swan's landing. I make me feel not so klutzy. Thursday I did a landing in my drive way and didn't look the coordinated. I again enjoyed seeing your remarkable finds and feel like I have been playing in the mud. Thanks again.

Nicola my wife and I are HOOKED on YOU!

I always love seeing you extract a pipe, I love the hoof pipe bowl as well as your other great finds. Thanks.

That swan landing was hysterical - definitely a laugh out loud moment. The ones at the end were fascinating - almost a mirror image of each other. I imagine they were doing a mating ritual? So happy to hear that you are making some more glass fish! I love them all and hope to be able to purchase one. Congratulations on your lovely horse hoof pipe find!

love the wildlife interludes. The research and information you find is one of the elements that I think sets your larking videos apart.

I always consider your videos a treat! Your finds were awesome, it's tough to pick a favorite. I think it's the ring...it really is lovely.:)

Thanks for the wonderful video Nicola I love the old bottle and the pipes and all the wildlife

Fun finds today, and I actually love the hook! I'd hang it up outside and use it to hold my garden hose! The swans! are adorable, quite picturesque 🦢🦢 Thank you Nic - love from Denmark 🌸 💕

Oh I love your hook - I could imagine great sacks or bales of wool or grain being lifted off ships onto the wharf or into the warehouses - Nice find - I'd bet Si would like that. Lovely swans, amazing they manage to keep so pristine! Have a fab week! Thanks for the video... 🦘🎃🐾👍🐱‍👤😎👻

So grateful for your calming videos - such a pleasure.

Love these videos... when you say “can you see it?” most of the time I don’t! It is so nice to hear the water and the birds...

Thanks Nicola for cheering up my Sunday. Absolutely love your mudlarking adventures. Love and best wishes Iain Leeds Yorkshire.x

Hi, Nicola How is every thing going just drop in to say I love your vidos and keep up the great work keep me from going Nuts THANK YOU MARK D

I love the hook!

Love your videos they are very calming in this hectic world. Keep them coming

Thanks Nicola! There’s something very therapeutic about your videos.

Such a lovely video, thank you Nicola! Beautiful horse hoof pipe bowl. So glad you are making some more fish! I will be having a look. Those swans! 😍 Have a great week and stay safe xx

I really like the Woolfry mineral water bottle. I love the swan footage. Thanks Nicola you are fabulous!

Thank you Nicola, wonderful Vlog as always.☮️🇨🇦 Oh the swans, the beautiful swans❤️

😂😂😂 I haven’t even gotten a minute in! Loved the graceful swan! ❤️

Oh please keep the hook, I think it's fabulous. I, however, have reached the conclusion that I would make a lousy 'larker', if it's not huge and laying on the surface I wouldn't spot it!!🧐 😁Thanks for another brilliant adventure Nicola.

I think your hoof looks very natural not being too white. It’s really beautiful, I’m so envious of you owning such wonderful treasures I am now disabled but if only I had done snd larking in the mud in the forty years I lived right on the Thames. I call it my river.

Ahhh Sunday morning with coffee and JoJo my conure on my shoulder to watch your videos. Good times !

"Ones man's garbage is another man's treasure" my Father always said. It's the story behind the item not necessarily the item itself that interests me most. One item in particular is the Military Button- missing military buttons during certain timelines of the Military history was frowned upon and could be justification to receive the harshest of Military punishments- including flogging. I came upon this article and thought it may possibly be of some interest to you as you love clay pipes- the pipe clay had many uses in the Military- In order to keep the breeches white, a whitish solution called pipeclay was sponged onto them (similar to modern-day shoe whitener). When the pipeclay dried, powder was left mixed amongst the wool fibres of the cloth. If a soldier slapped his leg, a cloud of powder would ensue.[12] Soldiers sometimes would colour their breeches while [13]wearing them. This was frowned upon by military officials and orders were often issued that decreed that any soldier caught in wet clothes was to be confined and “punished with the utmost severity”.[14] The exact reason behind this harsh order is not known but it may be linked to a possible health concern from wearing wet clothes or that the pipeclay dried out and damaged the soldier’s skin. A ball of pipeclay was instead to be used for touching up marks on the breeches while wearing them-- Yet another good video Nicola!

Great finds and great video, as always (and i LOVE seeing the beautiful swans). Youre so lucky to live there and go mudlarking, thanks for sharing so we can all enjoy it with you!

Kept this for tonight 😊😊...fabulous as always ! ...I get so excited when you find things, you can hear the excitement in your voice ...my bucket list is one day to explore the Thames...I've been to London so many times and never new about the foreshore...what an amazing area full of history 😊😊....going to treat myself to a fish for my bathroom ..I just love them .....❤...have a lovely rest of the week ...xx

Captain White,,,,,with the hook! What a great video! With you and Si Finds on Sundays, it begins a good week with my Larking Habit, at least watching you guys! That hook was spread apart much wider so when it held a rope the was more control when loading r unloading. It mad the rope more stable, less likely to spin in circles, at least from what I know. Quite a heavy hook that looks hand forged. And the Capt. pipe Queen of course! The hoof pipe is dark because it was smoked until the clay blackened. I believe I mentioned a year or two ago that my Grandfather as a boy working for RR track construction in the early 1900s, would be given 5 cents by the Forman to go and buy a dozen clay pipes. His boss would break off half the stem the wrap the remaining stem with several layers of butcher twine so he could hold it in his teeth. After smoked lots the bowl would turn black from the tobacco when he threw it out and wrapped another. This was 1906. My Grandfather passed in 1989 at the age of 97, sharp till the end. Another story I may have told you is about my Native friend. His friend would have him come and trap out snapping turtles from his three acre pond. He raised geese and ducks and the snappers would grab their legs and pull them under. His friend told the story about a Canada goose that was being pulled under by a snapper and all the geese from around the pond packed tightly around their friend and prevented the snapper from pulling it under. The Canada geese would hang around his pond then fly south for winter. The saved goose limped about a few weeks then flew off with his mates. Great story, eh? And some believe animals to be stupid? Love your swans! They are so graceful except when landing. And such fitting musical scores to go along! Kind Thanks for another exciting and Lovely video Nicola! Best of luck inna muck! Love and Joy of Spirit and the Thames of course! DaveyJO in Pa.

That pipe is a beauty. The horse hoof and the first one you found. It’s always exciting when you extract a pipe with a full stem!

Nice finds again, thank you for sharing. Love the bottle 👍👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️❤️🇦🇺

Great fun intro then ending with the more graceful dance of the swans 🦢🦢 Nice pipes too. Thanks 🙏🏽 for the always excellent content. Hope the dinner thing went well. Take care. Stay well. 🤍🤍

I love that you have a great love for the animals. Keep safe an happy.from Quensland.Pilar.🤗🤗🤗

Lovely footage of the swans at the end x

Nicola I absolutely love your... fantastic fractile fish fashioned freely from foreshore finds