Archaeologists have fought the tides to save a 17th–century shipwreck from a popular nudist beach in Dorset.
The remains are believed to be part of the Swash Channel Wreck, a Dutch merchant ship called The Fame of Hoorn that ran aground while approaching Poole Harbour in 1631.
The wreck was found on Dorset’s Studland Beach at the end of January when Storm Chandra washed away the sand that had kept it hidden for almost 400 years.
However, as more stormy weather threatened to destroy the ship for good, scientists were forced to make an urgent excavation.
On Thursday, marine archaeologists from Bournemouth University teamed up with the National Trust‘s youth group, made up of local school students, to remove the wreck from the sand.
Starting as the tide retreated at 10am, the archaeologists removed tonnes of sand so that the timbers could be carefully lifted and dismantled before the tide returned.
The section is roughly six metres (20ft) long and two metres (seven ft) wide, thought to be from a midship hull section.
Tom Cousins, a marine archaeologist at the University of Bournemouth, who led the survey of the timbers, says: ‘During our excavation of the Swash Channel wreck in 2013, there were pieces of the ship missing and we do believe a section of the hull has now been revealed at Studland.’
Archaeologists have fought the tides to save a 17th–century shipwreck from stormy weather on Studland Bay, a popular nudist beach in Dorset
The remains are believed to be part of the Swash Channel Wreck, a Dutch merchant ship called The Fame of Hoorn that ran aground while approaching Poole Harbour in 1631
On Thursday, marine archaeologists from Bournemouth University teamed up with the National Trust’s youth group, made up of local school students, to remove the wreck from the sand
Archaeologists believe that The Fame of Hoorn would have originally been 40 metres (130ft) long, 10 metres (33ft) wide, and 15 metres (50 ft) high.
The ship would have also carried at least 26 cartridge–mounted guns that would have been used against pirates as it carried salt from the Caribbean, or allowed it to serve as an impromptu warship.
This grand ship was constructed in the Netherlands in 1628, but sank only three years later when a storm dragged it onto the infamous sandbank at Hook Sands.
Records state that the crew of 45 abandoned ship and got safely to land, after which the Fame of Hoon was then likely picked clean by looters and salvagers.
The wreck was first discovered by divers in the 1990s, and subsequent excavations succeeded in removing a huge 40 metre (130ft) portion from the sea floor.
These included the magnificent 8.4 metre (28ft) rudder, topped with the enormous carved head of a moustachioed man.
At the time, it was the largest marine excavation since the wreck of the Mary Rose was raised in 1982.
However, large sections of the ship and at least 20 of its guns were still missing.
Excavations began as soon as the tide retreated far enough, and the volunteers had to removed tonnes of sand so that the beams could be lifted up and dismantled before the tide returned
The piece of the ship buried in the sand consists of 15 wooden frames connected with wooden treenails, large pegs used to connect pieces of wood, to five outer hull planks
Now, archaeologists believe that the timbers uncovered at Studland Beach are very likely to be part of the same ship.
The piece of the ship buried in the sand consists of 15 wooden frames connected with wooden treenails, large pegs used to connect pieces of wood, to five outer hull planks.
While the frames are in poor condition, the outer hull planks are remarkably well preserved.
Archaeologists say there would originally have been another layer of planking on the inside of the vessel, but this appears to have been lost.
This suggests that the remains have been buried in the sand since the 1630s and intermittently exposed over the centuries.
Sarah Coggins, coast and marine advisor for the National Trust, said: ‘In 1630 this section of beach would’ve been open sea.
‘Over the past 400 years, sand has been deposited creating the dunes, wetlands and shoreline we see at Studland today. That’s why this historic wreck is found buried in sand rather than lying on the seabed.’
However, the real test will come when archaeologists use dendrochronology to see when the trees used to make the planks were cut down.
The Swash Channel Wreck was first discovered by divers in the 1990s, and subsequent excavations succeeded in removing a huge 40 metre (130ft) portion from the sea floor
Archaeologists believe that The Fame of Hoorn would have originally been 40 metres (130ft) long, 10 metres (33ft) wide, and 15 metres (50 ft) high
Scientists believe this large section of ship is one of the missing pieces of The Fame of Hoon, that was not found in earlier excavations
The ship was exposed in late January by Storm Chandra, but scientists had to remove it from the beach before storms threatened to break it up completely
The wreck will now be studied using dendrochronology to work out when the trees that made it were cut down, this will confirm whether it really is part of the Fame of Hoon
If the age and origin of these planks match those of the confirmed Swash Channel Wreck pieces, it will be extremely strong evidence that they belong to the same vessel.
Hefin Meara, maritime archaeologist from Historic England, said: ‘The Swash Channel wreck is one of only 57 shipwrecks around the coast of England designated under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973.
‘Firmly dated remains of vessels predating 1700 are exceptionally rare.
‘We can’t say for certain that these fragments come from that wreck site, but it’s an intriguing possibility.’
