London’s first mudlarking festival is being launched as part of the 20th anniversary celebrations of one of the city’s museums.
The celebration of the history devotees who look for treasure in the mud on the foreshore of the Thames is part of a series of events planned by the Museum of London Docklands.
Museum Managing Director Douglas Gilmore said: “What we’re trying to do there is build it into an annual event.
“If you think of things like the Wildlife Photographer of the Year at the Natural History Museum that started gradually and is now a major annual event, and I’d like the mudlarking festival to be the same.
“It’s something that people love to do on the banks of the Thames and of course the river is part of the story we tell so it is very relevant to us.”
The anniversary of the museum, based near Canary Wharf, will also include a street party, a makers market and late night openings of its galleries before it opens its new exhibition Fashion City about the legacy of Jewish designers such as Cecil Gee.
Mr Gilmore said: “For our 20th anniversary, we look forward to welcoming new visitors and old friends to celebrate this corner of London we’re proud to call home.
“Through our events, we’ll be championing the culture, music and food of London’s vibrant East End and exploring important histories that have shaped the city we live in today.
“From dance workshops to film screenings, talks to displays, I hope people will find plenty to enjoy and much to take away from our programme.”
