The history of clay pipes dates to at least the 16th century, with some scholarly sources indicating they were produced in England around 1558, shortly after the introduction of tobacco from North America.

When were clay pipes used for plumbing?

Clay is one of the oldest piping materials in the world and in some places, its still used today. In the United States, it was the material of choice from the 1880s to the 1900s. Like brick and tile, clay pipe is heavy and transporting it was difficult, so many towns had their own clay pipe plants.

Why are there so many clay pipes in the Thames River?

Clay pipes are one of the most common finds made on the Thames London foreshore. Their shape and off-white tint marks them out against the rivers mud and pebbles. Pipe finds are so common because over the centuries they tended to be only used once and then were thrown away.

When did they stop using clay pipe for sewer lines?

Clay pipes were a common choice in ancient times. In the United States, they came to be used very early on and were still used until relatively recently. We stopped installing clay pipes in the 1960s and 1970s when plastic sewer pipe options such as ABS and PVC were developed.

Can anyone go Mudlarking on the Thames?

Foreshore permits Anyone wishing to search the tidal Thames foreshore in any way for any reason must hold a current foreshore permit from the Port of London Authority (PLA). The permit scheme covers activities including: searching.

Why is the Thames dirty?

Due to pollution, the amount of oxygen in the water fell so low that no life could survive and, in effect, fish either died or swam away. With no oxygen and continued spillage of untreated pollutants, the Thames started to stink and die. It was eventually declared dead in 1957 by the Natural History Museum.