The river mud at Rotherhithe gave up an unusual find: a locked ball and chain possibly dating from the 17th - 18th century, though minus its unlucky prisoner. The discovery was made by a mudlark; the modern-day treasure seeking descendent of the Victorian scavengers who combed the Thames foreshore for discarded valuables. The river has been the source of finds ranging from buttons and broken pipes to Iron Age jewellery and medieval children's toys. The fascinating find is on display at the Museum of London Docklands from today, yet another of the many historical stories of the Thames.
