She Started Exploring the River Thames at Just 5 — Now, at 14, She Is Helping Uncover London’s Forgotten History

While many teenagers spend their free time scrolling through social media, 14-year-old Emmylou Vaxby has spent nearly a decade searching the muddy banks of London’s River Thames for clues to the past. What began as a childhood hobby has grown into a remarkable passion for history, archaeology and writing.

Known online as Emmylou the Mudlark, the young Londoner searches the river’s exposed shoreline for objects left behind by generations of people. She has also written A Guide to Mudlarking on the River Thames, turning years of curiosity and research into a published book.

A Childhood Hobby That Became an Obsession

Emmylou first discovered mudlarking when she was around five or six years old. A friend’s mother took the children to the Thames foreshore to look for fragments of pottery and glass, introducing her to a world of history hidden beneath the surface of an ordinary city river.

Her interest grew during the pandemic, when her family spent time outdoors exploring the riverbank. Instead of seeing the muddy shoreline as an empty stretch of ground, Emmylou began to recognise it as a place where centuries of human activity had left traces behind.

She gradually developed the patience and observational skills needed to spot objects that might otherwise go unnoticed. Every visit became an opportunity to learn something new about the people who had lived, worked and traded along the Thames.

Finding Clues to London’s Forgotten Past

Mudlarking involves searching the foreshore exposed by the changing tides. As the water recedes, fragments of everyday life can emerge from the silt, including pottery, glass and old clay tobacco pipes.

Some of Emmylou’s finds date back hundreds of years. Among her discoveries are pieces of cobalt-glazed pottery that may come from the Georgian or Victorian periods, as well as a clay pipe associated with William Manby, a prominent 18th-century pipe maker who lived in the area.

Each object raises questions. Who used it? How did it end up in the river? What can it reveal about the lives of people who lived in London long before the modern city took shape?

For Emmylou, the excitement is not simply about finding something old. It is about using evidence, research and careful observation to piece together stories that might otherwise be forgotten.

Writing a Book Before Turning 15

Emmylou’s knowledge eventually attracted the attention of a publisher, who approached her about writing a guide to mudlarking. She signed the contract and spent the summer holidays of 2025 working on the manuscript.

Her writing schedule was demanding. She sometimes produced between 1,000 and 2,800 words a day while researching and documenting the hobby she had practised for years.

The resulting book, A Guide to Mudlarking on the River Thames, shares her knowledge of the river, its history and the art of recognising objects hidden among mud and stones. It also demonstrates how a young person’s enthusiasm can develop into serious expertise when curiosity is supported and encouraged.

Learning to Slow Down in a Fast-Moving World

For Emmylou, mudlarking is not only an exercise in historical discovery. It also gives her a break from schoolwork and the pressures of everyday life.

The activity requires people to slow down, look carefully and accept that a search may not always produce an exciting discovery. Emmylou says she is not disappointed when she finds nothing because the experience itself is enjoyable.

That perspective is part of what makes her story appealing. At an age when young people can feel pressure to achieve quickly, she has found satisfaction in a hobby built around patience, attention and the willingness to keep learning.

Protecting History for the Next Generation

Emmylou’s interest also extends to caring for the environment around the Thames. In 2021, she founded the Wapping Plastic-Free Community through the environmental organisation Surfers Against Sewage. She helps organise riverbank clean-ups and takes part in local litter-picking activities.

Mudlarking on the Thames is regulated, and participants need a permit from the Port of London Authority. Finds must also be recorded and reported in accordance with archaeological guidance so that historically important objects can be documented.

Her journey shows how a simple childhood interest can become a way to connect with history, contribute to a community and inspire others to look more closely at the world around them.

For Emmylou, the Thames is more than a river running through London. It is an archive of everyday human life, with stories waiting to be uncovered one small fragment at a time.

Source: Positive News