Portsmouth, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)
Mudlarks
Photographed By Michael Herrick, July 31, 2018
1. Mudlarks Marker
A penny or two won’t break yer.
We’ll take all your rusty silver,
And I’ll cover my face for a tanner.
The nearby statue commemorates the generations of Portsea children who enjoyed mudlarking here – entertaining travellers by retrieving coins they threw into the mud below the bridge to the harbour station and Gosport ferry. Boys and girls would scramble to find the money tossed down, sometimes diving into the mud, performing handstands or dipping their heads in it. Many Portsea families lived in poverty, so the small change was welcomed. Usually, what the children did not spend on sweets or pie and chips was given to mum to help out the family finances.
Most parents disapproved of their children’s activities, while the police regarded mudlarking as begging and tried to stop it. Mudlarking supplemented other ways of earning a few shillings, such as carrying passengers’ bags or finding drivers’ parking spaces. The building of the new bus terminal in 1976-7 put an end to mudlarking.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels.
Location. 50° 47.908′ N, 1° 6.435′ W. Marker is in Portsmouth, England. Marker can be reached from the
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Hard (here, next to this marker); The Ship Anson (within shouting distance of this marker); Hertha Ayrton (within shouting distance of this marker); The Porter’s Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); Captain Robert Falcon Scott (within shouting distance of this marker); The Jutland Gun (within shouting distance of this marker); Beware of the Wolf (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); The Figurehead (about 90 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Portsmouth.
Photographed By Michael Herrick, July 31, 2018
2. Mudlarks Marker
The mud in Portsmouth Harbour at low tide. HMS Warrior is at the right.
Photographed By Michael Herrick, July 31, 2018
3. Mudlarks Marker
The mud in Portsmouth Harbour at low tide. The Spinnaker Tower is in the background.
Photographed By Michael Herrick, July 31, 2018
4. Mudlarks Statue
The Mudlarks Statue on The Hard, a few steps from the marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 27, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 16, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 318 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 16, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.
