An ancient warship that carried English soldiers during the 17th century was discovered more than 300 years later. The vessel is believed to have carried the upcoming King of England of the time, James Stuart. According to records, the ship was damaged and sank on May 6, 1982.
HMS Gloucester Wreckage
L-R: Lincoln Barnwell, Prof Claire Jowitt, Dr Benjamin Redding, Julian Barnwell
The warship, named HMS Gloucester, was discovered half-buried on a seabed off the coast of England. There were still no clues of an individual that fell down with it to the depths of the sea, but scientists estimate that it previously had about 130 to 250 people, all of whom were drowned.
Among the passengers that were nearly killed by the sinking of the warship was Stuart, who would later become James II after being crowned King of England and James VII as King of Scotland.
Stuart was a Duke of York when the accident happened. He was among the last few batches of Catholics that gained a high-ranking position in England. Stuart was also an heir to the Protestant throne of the time.
University of East Anglia history specialist and English professor Claire Jowitt, who also authored the study over the Gloucester, explained that the politics and religion during the accident were factors that made the ship the most historic maritime discovery of England since the Mary Rose was lifted in 1982.
The discovery of the HMS Gloucester wreckage brings a deeper understanding of the maritime industry, social life, and political history during the 17th century in England, Jowitt continued.
Artifacts from the Wreckage
Most of the ancient items that were collected from the warship were well preserved. Among the artifacts were showers, apparel, and navigational devices. A lot of wine bottles were scattered across the vessel, most of which were unopened since the sinking.
Among the bottles was one that had the crest of the famous Legge family, which is believed to be the English ancestors of the first US President George Washington. The US star and stripes could be noticed etched on the bottle's design alongside the crest.
The experts and authorities decided to carry out an exhibition of the artifacts lifted from the Gloucester site next spring at the Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery, reports CNN. Jowitt will be among the co-curator for the presentation.
The historical shipwreck was only announced this year, but it was already found last 2007. The long delay in the official recognition was due to the challenging processes that were conducted to identify and examine the delicate vessel, which sat silently for 340 years in the depths off the coasts of Norfolk.
Historic England, responsible for relics and ancient sites discovered in the country, will be in charge of protecting the shipwreck.
The HMS Gloucester was initially found through the efforts of Julian and Lincoln Barnwell along with their late father Michael. They took the inspiration to find the 17th-century warship from the discovery of the Mary Rose. Royal Navy submariner and fellow diver James Little were also among the team that uncovered the vessel.
The STudy was published in The English Historical Review, titled "The Last Voyage of the Gloucester (1682): The Politics of a Royal Shipwreck."
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