Unknown Wreck Site

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Overview

A wooden wreck site associated with cannon, galley bricks, concreted objects and large dressed stone blocks. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Maritime Wreck
List Entry Number:: 1464317
Date first listed:: 05-Jul-2019

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Maritime Wreck
List Entry Number:: 1464317
Date first listed:: 05-Jul-2019
Location Description:: Located some 14km south-east of Beachy Head.

This list entry identifies a protected site which is understood to be the site of a vessel lying wrecked on or in the seabed. It's protected because of the historical, archaeological or artistic importance of the vessel, or of objects contained or formerly contained in it which may be lying on the seabed in or near the wreck.

Understanding protected wreck sites

Location

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

Marine Location Name:: EASTBOURNE EAST SUSSEX
Latitude:: 50.65043000
Longitude:: 0.39670000
National Grid Reference:: TV6952886157

Summary

A wooden wreck site associated with cannon, galley bricks, concreted objects and large dressed stone blocks.

Reasons for Designation

The unidentified wooden wreck site off Eastbourne is designated as a Protected Wreck for the following principal reasons:

* Historical importance: the discovery of an assemblage of cannon, and the association of other material provides an initial interpretation that this wreck comprises the remains of a C17 Dutch vessel.
* Archaeological importance: The recent discovery of this wreck is suggestive of a long period of burial which indicates the possible presence of a small finds and organic material.

History

The wreck was first identified in Easter 2019 when a dive charter, based out of Eastbourne, took two divers out to dive an unidentified obstruction recorded by the UK Hydrographic Office. During this dive cannon were observed on the seabed.

On 29 and 30 April 2019, the charter returned to the site with members of the Nautical Archaeology Society (NAS) to explore the wreck in more detail. In a verbal report made to Historic England, the NAS confirmed the presence of at least thirteen cannon, some of which had markings on them. Divers also saw galley bricks, miscellaneous concreted objects, large dressed stone blocks and the probable base of a copper cauldron.

Initial assessment, based on the cannon and galley brick morphology, indicates that the wreck may be of C17 Dutch origin, perhaps associated with either the Battle of Portland (1652) or the Battle of Beachy Head (1690); documentary research is on-going. If the wreck does represent the remains a former Dutch vessel, then it remains in the ownership of the Government of The Netherlands.

The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) record for the wreck indicates that it was first recorded in 2015, perhaps suggestive of a long period of burial and the presence of small finds and organic material. The UKHO survey data records a strong magnetic anomaly (most likely due to the presence of iron cannon and other ferrous artefacts).

The lack of a NRHE record for the wreck site confirms that this is a new discovery.

Details

Designation Order: 1068, 2019 Made: 1 July 2019 Laid before Parliament: 4 July 2019 Coming into force: 5 July 2019.

Protected area: 100 metres within 50.65043, 0.39670.

No part of the restricted area lies above the high-water mark of ordinary spring tides.

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 05/12/2019

Sources

Books and journals
Bender, J (Author), Dutch Warships in the Age of Sail 1600 - 1714, (2014)
McDonald, K, A Diver Guide, Dive Sussex, (2003)

Legal

This site is designated under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 as it is or may prove to be the site of a vessel lying wrecked on or in the sea bed and, on account of the historical, archaeological or artistic importance of the vessel, or of any objects contained or formerly contained in it which may be lying on the sea bed in or near the wreck, it ought to be protected from unauthorised interference. Protected wreck sites are designated by Statutory Instrument. The following information has been extracted from the relevant Statutory Instrument.

Statutory Instrument

Information provided under the Statutory Instrument heading below forms part of the official record of a protected wreck site. Information provided under other headings does not form part of the official record of the designation. It has been compiled by Historic England to aid understanding of the protected wreck site.