The wreck of a Royal warship that sank 340 years in the past carrying the longer term King James II has been found by novice divers.  

The invention of HMS Gloucester off the Norfolk coast has been hailed as the most important maritime discover for the reason that discovery of the Mary Rose within the Seventies.

The ‘excellent’ 54-gun frigate, which sank on Could 6, 1682 after hitting the Norfolk sandbanks within the southern North Sea, was uncovered 28 miles off the coast of Nice Yarmouth half-buried on the seabed – however the discover was stored secret till now to preserve the ship.

Efforts to find the wreck, led by brothers Julian and Lincoln Barnwell, proved profitable after a four-year search protecting 5,000 nautical miles.

Plans are underway to exhibit artefacts on board the ship which were dropped at land, together with garments, wine bottles and the ship’s bell, used to conclusively verify the wreck was the Gloucester. 

The exhibition – collectively curated by the College of East Anglia and Norfolk Museums Service – shall be staged for 5 months at Norwich Fort Museum & Artwork Gallery from spring subsequent yr. 

The ship itself is fragmented and nonetheless on the seafloor, and authorities say there are at present no plans to convey any a part of the stays to land. 

HMS Gloucester represents an ‘nearly’ second in British political historical past, because it almost brought on the demise of the Catholic inheritor to the Protestant throne at a time of nice political and spiritual pressure. 

James Stuart, later James II of England, who can be Britain’s final Catholic king, survived the sinking however as much as round 250 sailors and passengers misplaced their lives, largely as a result of his actions. 

James barely survived, having delayed abandoning ship till the final minute, needlessly costing the lives of between 130 and 250 folks on board who, due to protocol, couldn’t abandon the ship earlier than royalty. 

The wreck of a royal warship which sank in 1682 whereas carrying the longer term King of England James Stuart has been found off the coast of Norfolk. Photograph issued by Norfolk Historic Shipwrecks reveals divers Julian and Lincoln Barnwell measuring a canon that was discovered with the wreck

The ‘excellent’ ship, which sank on Could 6, 1682 after hitting the Norfolk sandbanks within the southern North Sea, was uncovered 28 miles off the coast of Nice Yarmouth half-buried on the seabed – however the discover was stored secret till now to preserve the ship

Photograph issued by the College of East Anglia (UEA) reveals Julian and Lincoln Barnwell with the ship’s bell – used to conclusively verify the wreck was the Gloucester

The all-important bell from the HMS Gloucester which sank off the Norfolk coast 340 years in the past whereas carrying the longer term king James Stuart

James Stuart, later James II of England (depicted right here), survived the sinking however as much as round 200 sailors and passengers misplaced their lives, largely as a result of future king’s actions

The catastrophe was witnessed by diarist Samuel Pepys, who was on one other vessel within the fleet.

He wrote a harrowing account of victims and survivors being picked up ‘half useless’ from the water.

Professor Claire Jowitt, a maritime historical past skilled on the College of East Anglia, has referred to as it the most vital maritime discovery for the reason that Mary Rose, the warship from the Tudor navy of King Henry VIII. 

The Mary Rose sank in battle within the Solent in 1545, and was raised in 1982, later being placed on show in Portsmouth. 

‘The invention guarantees to basically change understanding of Seventeenth-century social, maritime and political historical past,’ Professor Jowitt stated. 

‘It’s an impressive instance of underwater cultural heritage of nationwide and worldwide significance. Due to the circumstances of its sinking, this may be claimed as the one most important historic maritime discovery for the reason that elevating of the Mary Rose in 1982.’

The explorers found the wreck in June 2007 after a four-year search protecting 5000 nautical miles. 

The brothers, printers by commerce, hid the discover for 15 years to maintain it protected from treasure hunters because it was in worldwide waters.

Lincoln, 51, stated that they had determined to hunt for the vessel after studying about it in a guide in 2003.

However they have been starting to surrender hope after 4 fruitless years and travelling 5,000 nautical miles.

‘It was our fourth dive season searching for Gloucester,’ he stated.

‘We have been beginning to imagine that we weren’t going to seek out her. We’d dived a lot and simply discovered sand.

‘On my descent to the seabed, the very first thing I noticed have been giant cannon laying on white sand. It was awe-inspiring and actually stunning.

‘It immediately felt like a privilege to be there. It was so thrilling.

‘We have been the one folks on the earth at that second in time who knew the place the wreck lay. That was particular, and I’ll always remember it. Our subsequent job was to determine the positioning because the Gloucester.’

In 2012 one of many rescued finds – the ship’s bell, manufactured in 1681 – was utilized by the Receiver of Wreck and Ministry of Defence to conclusively verify the wreck was the Gloucester. 

It’s only now, 10 years on, that the ship’s discovery could be made public, largely as a result of want to guard an ‘in danger’ website, which lies in worldwide waters.

Nevertheless, the precise location of the wreck is protected and nonetheless can’t be disclosed.

THE ILL-FATED HMS GLOUCESTER  

HMS Gloucester was commissioned in 1652, constructed at Limehouse in London, and launched in 1654.

In 1682 it was chosen to hold James to Edinburgh to gather his closely pregnant spouse and their households.

The purpose was to convey them again to King Charles II’s courtroom in London in time, it was hoped, for the delivery of a official male inheritor.

The ship set sail from Portsmouth, with James and his entourage becoming a member of it off Margate in Kent, having travelled by yacht from London. In all there have been round 330 folks on board. 

At 5.30am on Could 6, HMS Gloucester hit the treacherous Norfolk sandbanks some 28 miles (45km) off Nice Yarmouth following a dispute between James, then the Duke of York, and the ship’s pilot James Ayres about how you can navigate them.

The Duke, a former Lord Excessive Admiral, had quarrelled with the pilot James Ayres the earlier evening about what course to comply with to keep away from the treacherous Norfolk sandbanks. 

Wreck of the ‘Gloucester’ off Yarmouth, Could 6, 1682. Since working aground on a sandbank on Could 6, 1682, the wreck of the warship the Gloucester has lain half-buried on the seabed

It sank inside an hour of the strike, killing roughly round 150 to 200 crew and passengers.  

James barely survived, having delayed abandoning ship till the final minute, needlessly costing the lives of many who, due to protocol, couldn’t abandon the ship earlier than royalty.

Shortly earlier than the ship sank, James escaped into one of many Gloucester’s small boats together with his shut pal the courtier John Churchill (later 1st Duke of Marlborough). 

The boat had been hoisted into the ocean and the Duke lastly consented to be taken to the security of one of many accompanying yachts, the Mary, which was a part of the fleet. He then hurried to Edinburgh, arriving on Could 7 about 8pm. 

James clearly influenced the selection of the HMS Gloucester’s route however accepted no duty when catastrophe struck and solely blamed the pilot, wishing him to be hanged instantly (although he was in actual fact courtroom martialled and imprisoned). 

James went on to reign as King James II of England and Eire and James VII of Scotland from 1685 till 1688, when he was deposed by the Wonderful Revolution.

Diarist and naval administrator Samuel Pepys, who witnessed occasions from one other ship within the fleet, wrote his personal account of the tragic sinking.

Pepys described the harrowing expertise for victims and survivors, a few of whom have been picked up ‘half useless’ from the water.

He additionally commented on how far more severe the catastrophe may need been: ‘Had this fallen out however two hours sooner within the morning, or the yachts on the typical distance that they had on a regular basis earlier than been, the Duke himself and each soul had perished.’ 

The Barnwell brothers discovered the wreck website with their late father Michael and two associates together with James Little, a former Royal Navy submariner and diver.

The ship was discovered cut up down the keel with the stays of the hull submerged within the sand.

In addition to the Receiver of Wreck and Ministry of Defence, the wreck has been declared to Historic England.

Artefacts rescued and conserved from the wreck embody garments and sneakers, navigational and different skilled naval tools, private possessions, and lots of wine bottles. 

Efforts to find the wreck, led by brothers Julian and Lincoln Barnwell, proved profitable after a four-year search cowl 5,000 nautical miles

The Barnwell brothers are Norfolk-based printers, licensed divers and Honorary Fellows within the College of Historical past at UEA. Lincoln stated he was partly impressed to seek for the wreck after watching the lifting of the Mary Rose on tv as a toddler

The 54-gun frigate, which sank on Could 6, 1682 after hitting the Norfolk sandbanks within the southern North Sea, was uncovered 28 miles off the coast of Nice Yarmouth. The precise location of the wreck is protected and can’t be made public.

One of many bottles bears a glass seal with the crest of the Legge household – ancestors of George Washington, the primary US President.

The Legge household crest was a forerunner to the Stars and Stripes flag.

There have been additionally some unopened bottles, with wine nonetheless inside, providing alternatives for future analysis.

Pictured, one of many glass bottles discovered with the wreck, which additionally bears a seal with the crest of the Legge household, ancestors of George Washington, the primary US President

Photograph issued by Norfolk Historic Shipwrecks reveals a close-up of the crest of the Legge household. The Legge household crest was a forerunner to the Stars and Stripes flag

Subsequent yr’s exhibition, entitled ‘The Final Voyage of the Gloucester: Norfolk’s Royal Shipwreck’, will show finds from the wreck and share ongoing historic, scientific and archaeological analysis.

Finally, researchers need to shed extra gentle on the identification and lives of those that sadly misplaced their lives.  

‘A tragedy of appreciable proportions when it comes to lack of life, each privileged and strange, the total story of the Gloucester’s final voyage and the influence of its aftermath wants re-telling, together with its cultural and political significance, and legacy,’ Professor Jowitt stated. 

‘We may also attempt to set up who else died and inform their tales, because the identities of a fraction of the victims are at present recognized.’