In #WomensHistoryMonth (which is every month as far as I’m concerned but, still, hashtags etc etc) I’m highlighting some Thames Foreshore mudlarked finds that have links to women who either worked on the river or whose forgotten stories are told through these artefacts #mudlark From the top, left to right:

• a handful of mostly Tudor-era, poss later, aglets. These were made of copper alloy, or silver/gold for high status people, some beautifully decorated, and protected the ends of cord or lace. We still use them, tho’ plastic, on our shoe laces 2/

I can’t stress enough how often mudlarking trips to the Thames Foreshore result in very little, but yesterday afternoon ended in a bucket list find for me. Thank you to fellow mudlarks for the ID - BEHOLD the first time a 15th/16th C Pinners’ Bone has been held for over 500 yrs. Pinners’ Bones or ‘Pinholders’ were usually made from the lower leg of a cow or horse ie the metapodia or cannon bones. They were sawn in half with grooves, such as in my photo below, where the pin wire was placed ready for filing. London Archaeological excavations have found -

Mini thread re the queue for the Queen’s Lying-In-State as I’m seeing an awful lot of nonsense being tweeted about it which might put people off who genuinely would like to go to Westminster Hall & pay their respects while there’s still time (ends at 6.30am on Monday.) If this isn’t for you (& please don’t @ me with your personal, critical comments re others who might choose to go, or your views about the monarchy) feel free to scroll on past. This is more about practical advice for those thinking about going. Thx.

Back to the river this morning, star find of the day was this domino/gaming token. Fashioned from the thinnest sliver of bone, difficult to age, perhaps a hundred years old or even more. Might have been lost from a local gambling den but today it’s coming home with me #mudlark Here it is, front and back. Tossed about in the Thames for at least a century, possibly more, the bone carved by the steadiest of hands.