Photograph by N.Cohen – Flickr
The Thames Discovery Programme is an archaeological project run by Museum of London Archaeology which aims to promote historical understanding and enjoyment of the river Thames.
As part of their initiatives, the group runs guided walks along the Thames foreshore (the areas of land on the riverside that are revealed at low tide) throughout the year, which compliment other walks from the Thames Explorer Trust and the Creekside Centre, and they also host regular talks on a diverse range of subjects which you can find out about here.
Then there are the FROGs – members of the Foreshore Recording & Observation Group. These are trained volunteers who regularly go out to explore the banks of the Thames, often unearthing both historic and unusual objects. You can learn about recent discoveries on their blog here, and if you want to join them then there are two ways to get involved in 2013 – either as part of the Dirty Weekends project with DigiVentures in February or March, or by going on the FROG training in April. Keep an eye on the website for updates.
Over the last few years the Thames Discover Programme has undertaken archaeological studies at several key sites along the Thames. In 2009 they investigated Custom House (where amongst other features they recorded the 1819 riverside wall and the wrecks of two vessels), Isleworth (where the Victorian ‘Church Ferry’ causeway was documented), Charlton (undertaking a study of the old Castle’s Shipbreakers Yard and it’s warship remains) as well as Alderman Stairs (near St Katharine Docks), Putney, Bermondsey and the Carrara Wharf in Fulham.
In 2010 an investigation of the Isle of Dogs in conjunction with the Thames and Field Metal Detecting Society uncovered a skeleton from the early 1700s while later in the year work focused on the historic foreshore at the Tower of London. They also undertook work at Greenwich, revealing Tudor construction and and the remains of a mysterious medieval building. In the following year investigations took place at Vauxhall (which uncovered a late Mesolithic – 10,000 to 5,000 BC structure – the oldest building ever to unearthed in the London area), as well as Brentford and Wapping and a return to Greenwich and the Tower of London.
Up until October 2011 the Thames Discovery Programme was grant-aided by the Heritage Lottery Fund, but they are now looking for donations to continue their work beyond 2013 (they have secured funding from the The Crown Estate, Historic Royal Palaces, the Southwark and Lambeth Archaeological Excavation Committee and the City of London Archaeological Trust for work extending into next year). You can help the group by making a donation at their JustGiving site here.
Information about many of their discoveries is available online. They make for fascinating reading and watching – you may never look at the Thames in quite the same way again.
About Pete Stean
