“I Love The Feeling Of Peace The River Gives Me ”

For mudlarker Lara Maiklem, spending time discovering the history beneath her feet on the foreshore of the River Thames was the key to finding peace of mind

- Danielle Woodward

Lara Maiklem has always had a keen eye for spotting small details. ‘I grew up on a farm 48 kilometres outside of London and I’d go on long walks with my mum – she taught me to look at things that weren’t obvious; the subtle patterns on a wet pebble, the veins etched in a leaf. I learned to empty my mind, slow down and lose myself in my surroundings. It’s a skill I’ve taken with me into adulthood and I’m passing it on to my own children now. I hope it will keep them grounded and teach them to take pleasure in the small things.’

The original mudlarks were scavengers in 18th-century London, collecting anything they could sell, such as rags, coal and rope. Today, mudlarks are amateur archaeologists, and Lara has scoured the banks of the Thames for over 15 years, discovering objects such as prehistoric flint, Roman hairpins, medieval belt buckles, Tudor shoes, Georgian clay pipes and Victorian toys. ‘I remember waiting to meet a friend on the South Bank,’ she says. ‘I was watching the river flow at high tide and it reminded me of the river behind the house where I grew up. I loved the sense of peace it gave me and I was missing that, having moved from the countryside to the city.

‘I first went down the stone steps that lead onto the foreshore around 15 years ago – I needed some space, to get away from the chaotic city I loved, to find peace and solitude. It was familiar to me; a wild flowing river with a wide open sky. Here, I could connect with nature, and the river became my secret place of peace. It was my escape from everyday life; it healed my broken heart and helped me cope when life became too much.’

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