WitC are happy to share this opportunity that is being run by MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology) Thames Discovery Programme.

Key Event Details:

Date:  Saturday 5th August

Time: 11.00am – 1.00pm for the MOLA activity.

There is then an option to stay on for a picnic lunch followed by a short hike with our WitC Nature Guides.  (Please indicate on the registration form if you intend to join the picnic and hike.)

Meeting point: Outside the Town of Ramsgate Pub, 62 Wapping High St, London, E1W 2PN

Cost: Free

Places are limited to a maximum of 25 (incl. children age 8 and above), so please book early to avoid disappointment.  Please note that due to insurance restrictions, only 2 children age 8 or above are allowed per family.

Please complete the registration form at the bottom of the page to secure your place.  Please note that one registration form is required per attendee.

Full Event Details Provided by MOLA:

Who are Thames Discovery Programme (TDP)

Thames Discovery Programme – Foreshore Walks – Things to know before you come

When the tide is out… the Thames becomes one of the longest archaeological sites in London, and much of the foreshore is freely accessible to the public.

Background to the site

Wapping has a lot of links with colonial history. It’s the site of the Thames River police, which was is the oldest police force in England. It was originally set up to protect West India company ships from theft in the Pool of London, and was part funded by the West India Company. The West India Docks and later the London Docks (including Tobacco Dock) were built to further control the handing of goods imported from British colonies. It’s also historically been a very diverse community, partly because of its proximity to the port and the docks, with a large Black population in the Georgian period, mostly sailors, but also earlier, sailors from the Low Country, French Huguenot refugees and Irish communities in the area. That’s just a skim, there’s lots more to tell…

How long would the session be?

Typically last between 90 minutes and two hours (on the foreshore).

Where would it take place?

Meeting point: outside Wapping Pub • Town of Ramsgate

The Town of Ramsgate is a friendly and welcoming pub set in the heart of East London, in the centre of the ancient hamlet of Wapping.townoframsgate.pub

Foreshore awareness

Access to the foreshores are usually specific and require an amount of mobility (which is not always accessible to all sadly)

There are a limited number of places from which to access the Thames foreshore. The most common access points are river stairs, although some sites can be accessed via slipways or ramps.

TDP always send H+S info beforehand and will be present to supervise and lead us safely around the foreshore. This is reliant on the tides so there isn’t much flexibility on when we can run these sessions!

Date

Saturday 5^th August (again based on the tides) 11:00 – 13:00

What would the session involve?

Our walks typically include a short H&S briefing, an introduction to the site and its history, and a walk along the foreshore to look at some of the key features that can be seen. We give participants the opportunity to look for finds, although this is not the focus of the walks.

Clothing

For your visit we would recommend that sensible clothing is worn. We are aware that most schools have a uniform policy; however, the foreshore can be muddy and our advice is that children wear clothes that they can get dirty. In the winter months, we would recommend warm clothing be worn as it is often colder on the more exposed foreshore. In the spring and summer the reflection of the sun off the water increases the risk of sunburn – think about hats and suncream.

Footwear

Sturdy and practical footwear is best for the foreshore due to its uneven nature. We suggest wearing wellington boots or sturdy trainers that the children won’t mind getting muddy.

How many can attend

We have an upper limit on our walks of 25 people (including children ages 8+). We were hoping this would include MOLA staff and WITC network to allow for genuine chance to interact with one another. But depending on the response you get we will obviously prioritise the spaces for WITC first.

The session is free for all to attend.

THIS EVENT IS NOW CLOSED TO NEW BOOKINGS!