Deptford Creekside Discovery Centre
Deptford Creekside Discovery Centre
14 Creekside, London SE8 4SA
Uncanny Waters is an intergenerational project led by collaborative artists Lu Firth & Ray Malone, bringing together 13 uncanny participants aged under 30 and over 50 to explore the intersections of water, migration, and queer resistance through costume-making.
Through a series of workshops running from November 2024 to April 2025, our uncanny participants have been exploring the symbolism of water as a site of connection and transformation. From mythical figures like the Deptford Necker (a South London river hag) to personal stories of migration and border-crossing, the project creates costumes and textiles from the stories that shape our identities and connect us to time and place.
Workshops have included costume design and creation, as well as explorations of queer heritage, migration, and historical research. Participants also engage in activities such as mudlarking and low tide walks, that connect their creative work to London’s rivers.
Uncanny Waters a costume projectby Lu Firth & Ray Malone 
“Everyone looks sexy in waders.”
Deptford Creekside
Exploring Deptford Creekside during Storm Bert
The Uncanny Waters trip to Deptford Creekside was a muddy treasure hunt through London’s history, featuring sexy green waders, treasure hunting, and walking trees.
Decked out like swamp adventurers, we uncovered Staffordshire Slipware pottery shards, a river bed full of old clothes, and a discarded can of sardines.
Deptford Creekside Discovery Centre 24th November 2024
Participant Feedback
“I just really loved our discussions, I love being presented with an idea or question and going away in groups to discuss things together. It feels like it has been a long time since I have done something like this and I forgot how happy it makes me..”
— Participants Anonymous Feedback
The highlight of the first session was… “Meeting the other participants and feeling the palpable creative energy and excitement.”
—Participants Anonymous Feedback
the story we have inherited that we wrote about - it brought back something a very central but totally forgotten about memory and has since become the basis of the costume I'd like to play with
— Participants Anonymous Feedback
