Summary
The site comprises the remains of a C17 cargo vessel, located near Low Bream Ledge, Isles of Scilly, Cornwall. The wreck is thought to be the remains of the Phoenix, lost in 1680 while on a return voyage from Bantam, Java, with a cargo of pepper and silk. A significant assemblage of small finds was recovered from the site by the finder prior to scheduling. The surviving material on the seabed is comprises several broken iron cannon, believed to be kentledge ballast, along with a small section of wooden ship structure which is potentially associated with the keel. The wreck site is not associated with any pre-existing NRHE records or UKHO wreck records, suggesting that this is a newly discovered wreck site.
Reasons for Designation
The wooden wreck site located near Low Bream Ledge, Isles of Scilly, Cornwall, is scheduled for the following principal reasons:
* Period: the interpretation of the finds assemblage indicates that the wreck is the remains of a C17 vessel. The wreck is potentially the remains of the English East India Company vessel Phoenix, lost in 1680 while on a return voyage from Bantam, Java, with a cargo of pepper and silk;
* Rarity: ships predating 1700 are extremely rare and so even fragmentary survivals are of national importance;
* Potential: a significant quantity of high-value small finds have been recovered from the wreck site. Geophysical data in the vicinity of the main wreck site suggest the presence of further archaeological remains. The wreck site has the potential to inform on the construction and use of vessels involved in the East India trade during the C17;
* Vulnerability: elements of the wreck and mobile artefacts exposed on the seabed remain vulnerable to uncontrolled salvage and theft.
History
The wreck located near the Low Bream Ledge, Isles of Scilly, comprises the remains of a late C17 wooden sailing ship, and is believed to be the remains of the English East Indiaman Phoenix.
The Phoenix was built in 1670 on the Thames, by a Captain Potter. Sources describe the Phoenix as being either 360 or 380 tons, with a crew of 90 and carrying 30 guns. It was the smallest of three ships built as part of an agreement with the East India Company in 1670. The Phoenix is believed to have been a two-decked vessel, built with cargo capacity rather than speed being the main consideration. No record for the armament of the Phoenix has been traced as yet.
In November 1677 the Phoenix was engaged by the East India Company to transport cargo to Bantam, Java in November, under the Command of Captain William Wildy. In documents dating to 1673, Captain Wildy is noted to have a stake in the ownership of the vessel. The Phoenix is reported to have sailed with a mixed cargo and ballast of half kentledge (broken guns). The Phoenix was lost on the return voyage from Bantam, Java, with a cargo of pepper and silk. The cause of sinking is unknown but is likely to be either the result of storm action or due to navigational error.
The wreck of the Phoenix was subject to salvage activity in the immediate aftermath of the sinking. Records from Court Minutes dating to 1680 list material recovered from the wreck, including 498 bags of pepper, 32 bags of what is likely to be a red ochre dye, and 1,678 rolls of satin. The lack of unbroken cannon on the seabed suggests that armament was also salvaged from the wreck site during this operation.
The site was discovered by a scuba diver searching for the remains of the Phoenix. The finder has undertaken geophysical and diver survey of the site, and has recovered a significant assemblage of small finds from the wreck.
Historic England subsequently commissioned Wessex Archaeology to undertake diving fieldwork and to prepare an undesignated site assessment for the site.
Details
PRINCIPAL ELEMENTS: the wreck covers an area of approximately 30m by 10m, although the magnetic anomalies reported by the finder suggest that there could be further material located away from the main wreck site. The archaeological remains lie on a seabed comprising boulders and large cobbles, infilled with sand and covered with an extensive kelp forest. The site comprises a large group of cannons, along with two isolated pairs of cannon. No part of the scheduled area lies above the high water mark of ordinary spring tides.
DESCRIPTION: the main area consists of at least 16 broken, cast iron, muzzle loading cannon. The cannon are in poor condition and are heavily concreted. No trunnions were observed. The cannon are arranged in two rows running north-south, with the cannon themselves orientated east-west. The concretions mean that accurate measurements were not possible, but the approximate measurements obtained indicate that several of the cannon appear to be of at least 8-pounder size. The arrangement of the cannon in neat rows is indicative of them either being ballast or cargo in transport. This main area of cannons covers an area of approximately 10m by 10m. As the cannon appear to be broken, they are considered most likely to be kentledge ballast. Some timber survives below the cannon, which may be part of the keel of the vessel.
Approximately 15m to the north of the main area of guns lie another two cannons which are heavily concreted, and partially buried by sand. At least two other heavily concreted cannon lie a further 5m to the NE. The finder reports that these overlie other unidentified concretions.
Scheduled area: 50m within 49 56.007735 N, 006 22.389184 W (WGS84)
