Latest news with #DanPascoe
Miami Herald
01-08-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
‘Remarkable' 320-year-old warship explored as shifting sands reveal new sections
In November 1703, the wind over the northern Atlantic Ocean took a turn. The winds grew strong and battered the coast of the United Kingdom. Over the next two weeks, a freak storm with hurricane-force winds would grow to become one of the most devastating in recorded history. More than 10,000 people were killed, and the strength of the British Royal Navy was depleted as hundreds of ships were pulled to the bottom of the sea. One of these was the Northumberland, a 70-gun warship built in 1679 and part of the fleet of Queen Anne, the last Stuart monarch. It would be centuries before the wreck of the Northumberland would be discovered off the coast of Kent, but now, shifting sands and strong currents along the coast are bringing more details of the ship to light. Recent dives on the 320-year-old wreck have found 'that a remarkably large section of the warship may survive intact on the seabed,' according to a July 31 news release from Historic England. Research diver Dan Pascoe, licensed to explore the wreck, found 'organic material such as wooden decks, wooden chests — some including cannon balls and the ship's rope — have survived particularly well,' according to the release. 'This is due to being covered by sand and seabed sediments for hundreds of years,' Historic England said. Divers have been able to see more of the wreck than ever before with shifting seafloor sand and marine organisms boring into the wreck, but it also leaves it in fragile condition, according to the release. The ship was designated part of the Heritage at Risk Register in 2017, but has been part of the shipwreck registry since 1981. Surveys of the wreck previously found an 'extensive hull structure' with the frame of the ship, 'much more than previously thought,' Historic England said. There were also wooden decks, coils of rope, chests (sealed and open), iron cannons, a wooden gun carriage, swords, muskets and copper cauldrons, according to the release. 'The completeness of the Northumberland wreck site is remarkable. Historic England's diving work is so important to ensure we continue to record what we can of this site. It is a race against time as more of the Northumberland wreck becomes exposed,' Paul Jeffery, marine team leader of Historic England, said in the release. The ship sank on Nov. 26, 1703, as part of the navy lost in the 'Great Storm,' and is one of four warships known to be caught in the winds off the coast of Kent, Historic England said. Two others, the Restoration and the Stirling Castle, were discovered in 1981 and 1980 respectively. The third, named the Mary, has yet to be found. All of the ships were commissioned during Queen Anne's reign between 1702 and 1714, and were the last group of ships built in the Stuart style, according to Historic England. 'The Northumberland has the potential to be one of the best-preserved wooden warships in the UK,' Pascoe said in the release. 'However, at (65 feet) underwater and 9 miles offshore it is out of sight and mind to most people.' Kent is a county in southeastern England on the coast of the English Channel just outside London.
The Irish Sun
01-08-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
Incredible 350-year-old WARSHIP found off UK coast after sinking in ‘storm' – as mystery swirls over 3 other vessels
DIVERS have discovered more well-preserved sections of an incredible warship from the 17th century at a wreck off the UK coast. Recent surveys have found that the ship - HMS Northumberland - is in a remarkable state of preservation, with divers uncovering its hull 20 metres deep and roughly nine miles off the Kent coast. 4 Divers have discovered the well-preserved hull of HMS Northumberland Credit: PA 4 Shifting sands off the Kent coast have uncovered parts of the ship that have never been seen before Credit: PA 4 Ropes were found as were chests containing cannonballs Credit: PA The warship was built in 1679 and served in many major naval battles before it sank during the Great Storm of 1703. After first being discovered in 1980, divers have now been able to see a large section of the ship's hull thanks to sinking sands off the Kent coast. Crews have found timbers and ropes still attached to the ship as well as unopened caskets - all of which have been protected from erosion and decay in the sand. On top of this, divers have found copper cauldrons and wood chests with some preserved cannonballs inside which have survived "particularly well". Read More on UK News Mystery also surrounds three other warships that sank during the same storm. The vessels, which were all part of the fleet of Queen Anne, were brought down by the historic storm, but HMS Northumberland is the only one of the four to have ever been found. Historic England 's survey, organised with divers from MSDS Marine, discovered more of the preserved wreckage but there are now concerns erosion could take place. Since the sands have now shifted, the well-preserved sections of the ship are exposed, leaving it at a high risk of deterioration, Historic England said. Most read in The Sun The warship is considered to be one of the 'best preserved' wooden ships. Dan Pascoe, holder of the licence to dive at the wreck site, said: "The Northumberland has the potential to be one of the best-preserved wooden warships in the UK. Lost 300-Year-Old Pirate Ship With £101M Treasure Discovered Off Madagascar "However, at 20 metres underwater and nine miles offshore, it is out of sight and mind to most people." The Northumberland was a third rate 70-gun warship built in Bristol as part of Samuel Pepys's regeneration of the English Navy. 'IT IS A RACE AGAINST TIME' A film made by streaming service History Hit aired yesterday, detailing the new survey and the initial construction of the Northumberland. Creator the missing link. "Built roughly halfway between the Mary Rose and HMS Victory, this wreck can fill in crucial details of shipbuilding and life at sea at that pivotal moment in our history. "We have the Mary Rose, the 'Tudor time capsule' – well here's a Stuart time capsule to sit alongside it." Future work on the site may include taking wood samples or dendrochronological sampling to find out more about the ship's construction and confirm its identity. Paul Jeffery, marine leader at Historic England, said: "The completeness of the Northumberland wreck site is remarkable. "It is a race against time as more of the Northumberland wreck becomes exposed." 4 Divers are making the most of the shifting sands as they may soon lead to the erosion of the well-preserved site Credit: PA
Scottish Sun
01-08-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
Incredible 350-year-old WARSHIP found off UK coast after sinking in ‘storm' – as mystery swirls over 3 other vessels
The ship served in multiple naval victories before sinking in 1703 as part of Queen Anne's fleet HIDDEN FIND Incredible 350-year-old WARSHIP found off UK coast after sinking in 'storm' – as mystery swirls over 3 other vessels Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DIVERS have discovered more well-preserved sections of an incredible warship from the 17th century at a wreck off the UK coast. Recent surveys have found that the ship - HMS Northumberland - is in a remarkable state of preservation, with divers uncovering its hull 20 metres deep and roughly nine miles off the Kent coast. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Divers have discovered the well-preserved hull of HMS Northumberland Credit: PA 4 Shifting sands off the Kent coast have uncovered parts of the ship that have never been seen before Credit: PA 4 Ropes were found as were chests containing cannonballs Credit: PA The warship was built in 1679 and served in many major naval battles before it sank during the Great Storm of 1703. After first being discovered in 1980, divers have now been able to see a large section of the ship's hull thanks to sinking sands off the Kent coast. Crews have found timbers and ropes still attached to the ship as well as unopened caskets - all of which have been protected from erosion and decay in the sand. On top of this, divers have found copper cauldrons and wood chests with some preserved cannonballs inside which have survived "particularly well". Mystery also surrounds three other warships that sank during the same storm. The vessels, which were all part of the fleet of Queen Anne, were brought down by the historic storm, but HMS Northumberland is the only one of the four to have ever been found. Historic England's survey, organised with divers from MSDS Marine, discovered more of the preserved wreckage but there are now concerns erosion could take place. Since the sands have now shifted, the well-preserved sections of the ship are exposed, leaving it at a high risk of deterioration, Historic England said. The warship is considered to be one of the 'best preserved' wooden ships. Dan Pascoe, holder of the licence to dive at the wreck site, said: "The Northumberland has the potential to be one of the best-preserved wooden warships in the UK. Lost 300-Year-Old Pirate Ship With £101M Treasure Discovered Off Madagascar "However, at 20 metres underwater and nine miles offshore, it is out of sight and mind to most people." The Northumberland was a third rate 70-gun warship built in Bristol as part of Samuel Pepys's regeneration of the English Navy. 'IT IS A RACE AGAINST TIME' A film made by streaming service History Hit aired yesterday, detailing the new survey and the initial construction of the Northumberland. Creator Dan Snow said: "Northumberland is the missing link. "Built roughly halfway between the Mary Rose and HMS Victory, this wreck can fill in crucial details of shipbuilding and life at sea at that pivotal moment in our history. "We have the Mary Rose, the 'Tudor time capsule' – well here's a Stuart time capsule to sit alongside it." Future work on the site may include taking wood samples or dendrochronological sampling to find out more about the ship's construction and confirm its identity. Paul Jeffery, marine leader at Historic England, said: "The completeness of the Northumberland wreck site is remarkable. "It is a race against time as more of the Northumberland wreck becomes exposed."
Telegraph
31-07-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Shifting sands reveal more of ‘remarkably preserved' 1600s English warship
Shifting sands have uncovered the hull of a 17th-century English warship off the Kent coast. The Northumberland shipwreck is said to potentially be one of the best preserved wooden ships, and was found 20 metres (66ft) underwater and nine miles off the Kent coast in 1980. Now wooden decks, lengths of rope, copper cauldrons and wooden chests with some preserved cannonballs inside, which have survived 'particularly well', have been uncovered by a survey organised by Historic England with MSDS divers. The near 350-year-old protected wreck is at high risk of deterioration as shifting sands expose it to processes that may erode the well preserved wreckage, Historic England said. Dan Pascoe, its licensee who monitors the site, said: 'The Northumberland has the potential to be one of the best-preserved wooden warships in the UK. However, at 20 metres underwater and nine miles offshore, it is out of sight and mind to most people.' The Northumberland was a third-rate 70-gun warship built in Bristol in 1679 as part of Samuel Pepys's regeneration of the English navy. It sank during the 'Great Storm' of Nov 26 1703 off Kent along with three other warships, including The Mary, the location of which is still unknown. They were all part of the fleet of Queen Anne, the last Stuart monarch, who reigned from 1702 to 1714. A film made by streaming service History Hit, detailing the new survey and the initial construction of the Northumberland, airs on Thursday. Creator Dan Snow said: 'Northumberland is the missing link. Built roughly halfway between the Mary Rose and HMS Victory, this wreck can fill in crucial details of shipbuilding and life at sea at that pivotal moment in our history. 'We have the Mary Rose, the Tudor time capsule – well, here's a Stuart time capsule to sit alongside it.' Future work on the site may include taking wood samples or dendrochronological sampling to find out more about the ship's construction and confirm its identity. Paul Jeffery, the marine leader at Historic England, said: 'The completeness of the Northumberland wreck site is remarkable. It is a race against time as more of the Northumberland wreck becomes exposed.'
Powys County Times
31-07-2025
- General
- Powys County Times
18th century shipwreck among ‘best preserved' of its time, experts say
Latest diving surveys have revealed a 'remarkable' completeness of the wreckage of an 18th century English warship preserved on the seabed. Twenty metres deep underwater and nine miles off the Kent coast, the Northumberland shipwreck is said to potentially be one of the 'best preserved' wooden ships. The latest survey, organised by Historic England with MSDS divers, found wooden decks, lengths of rope, copper cauldrons, and wooden chests with some preserved cannon balls inside had survived 'particularly well'. The 320-year-old protected wreck site is at high risk of deterioration as shifting sands expose it to processes which may erode the well preserved wreckage, Historic England said. Its licensee Dan Pascoe, who monitors the site, said: 'The Northumberland has the potential to be one of the best-preserved wooden warships in the UK. 'However, at 20 metres underwater and nine miles offshore, it is out of sight and mind to most people.' The Northumberland was a third rate 70-gun warship built in Bristol in 1679 as part of Samuel Pepys's regeneration of the English Navy. It sank during the 'Great Storm' on November 26, 1703 off Kent along with three other warships, including The Mary – the location of which is still unknown. They were all part of Queen Anne's fleet, the last Stuart monarch, reigning from 1702 to 1714. A film made by streaming service History Hit airs on Thursday detailing the new survey and the initial construction of the Northumberland. Creator Dan Snow said: 'Northumberland is the missing link. Built roughly halfway between the Mary Rose and HMS Victory, this wreck can fill in crucial details of shipbuilding and life at sea at that pivotal moment in our history. 'We have the Mary Rose, the 'Tudor time capsule' – well here's a Stuart time capsule to sit alongside it.' Future work on the site may include taking wood samples or dendrochronological sampling to find out more about the ship's construction and confirm its identity. Paul Jeffery, marine leader at Historic England, said: 'The completeness of the Northumberland wreck site is remarkable. 'It is a race against time as more of the Northumberland wreck becomes exposed.'
