Swash Channel Wreck
Encyclopedia
The Swash Channel Wreck is the remains of an early 17th armed merchantman possibly of Dutch origin wrecked outside of Poole Harbour
. The vessel was approximately 40m long and has been predicted to be around 600 tonnes. The ships was probably involved with the beginning of Internationalization
.
The archaeological evidence including the small number of guns, the position of the galley, wooden sheathing
, ornate carvings and that only one row of knees
is present on the wreck suggesting that the vessel was a high status merchantman bound for the tropics. Dendrochronology dates the ships timbers to 1628 from the Dutch/German Border.
Approximately 40% of the portside of the wreck remains from above the keel line to the stern
and bow castles
.
, it was designated on the tenth of December 2004 , when heritage minister Andrew McIntosh said:
‘This is an important wreck… it is likely to be well preserved and rare in terms of its quality and the quantity of the surviving structure… This order is particularly timely as the location of the wreck has been publicised and we need to protect it from potential damage by divers visiting the site.’
In 2004 Wessex Archaeology
on behalf of Poole Harbour Commissioners and Poole Borough Council conducted a geophysical survey and the site was re-discovered as a sidescan sonar anomaly Wessex Archaeology undertook a designated site assessment for English Heritage
in 2005, recording a zone of structure c.20m in length and reporting that further remains were known to exist. The structure included parts of the ship’s forecastle, complete with galley
and gunports, which is extremely rare as ships’ upper works are usually destroyed during the wrecking. Importantly the structure showed signs of being recently exposed, and after a short time it was seen to be degrading.
Bournemouth University
was approached by English Heritage in 2006 to investigate the possibility of undertaking a monitoring project as part of a student-training project. The purpose of the 2006 season was to set up a long-term “strategy for the future management of the SCW… [for the]… 2006-2011” season.
The archaeological investigation discovered that the protective hessian sandbags placed in 2005 had degraded exposing the wreck. The site was larger than thought; covering a 50m by 40m area with structural remains over 40m by 20m. More work than was originally predicted was required and with no further funding available, Bournemouth University negotiated sponsorship with a number of local organisations including Jenkins Marine http://www.jenkinsmarine.co.uk/, Poole Museum
and Dorset Workboats http://www.dorsetworkboats.com/ to cover this extra work.
Since 2006 Bournemouth University
continued to work on the wreck as a student training project allowing students to undertake the majority of the work including trials for establishing the most cost effective method of in situ stabilisation, and creating photomosaics of the site showing the site a whole for the first time. BU continued to monitor the site noting that sediment was being lost lowering sand levels across the site, by up to 350mm in some areas. The gradual exposure of new material has reached the point where extensive archaeological deposits that contain extremely vulnerable organic material are being exposed, rapidly degraded and eventually lost.
In 2010 English Heritage
agreed to fund an excavation of the site by a BU led team of marine archaeologists undertook the largest underwater excavation in the UK since the Mary Rose
. The site was divided into 6m grids where two teams began excavating the sediment and recovering the small finds, once a grid was excavated the areas was photographed to create a photomosaic of the site. A third team worked on the recording and dismantling of the Bow Castle
ready for raising and preserving.
The Bow Castle was raised in May 2011 and future plans include the raising of the first 10m of the bow section and the 8m long carved rudder.
The ship has also yielded 5 carvings of baroque
style including two mermen, cherubim, and a classical style head carved on top of the rudder. These Carvings are being conserved by York Archaeological Trust
with funding from BU and MAST.
Poole Harbour
Poole Harbour is a large natural harbour in Dorset, southern England, with the town of Poole on its shores. The harbour is a drowned valley formed at the end of the last ice age and is the estuary of several rivers, the largest being the Frome. The harbour has a long history of human settlement...
. The vessel was approximately 40m long and has been predicted to be around 600 tonnes. The ships was probably involved with the beginning of Internationalization
Internationalization
In economics, internationalization has been viewed as a process of increasing involvement of enterprises in international markets, although there is no agreed definition of internationalization or international entrepreneurship...
.
The archaeological evidence including the small number of guns, the position of the galley, wooden sheathing
Copper sheathing
Copper sheathing was the practice of protecting the under-water hull of a ship or boat through the use of copper plates affixed to the outside of the hull. It was pioneered and developed by the Royal Navy during the 18th century.-Development:...
, ornate carvings and that only one row of knees
Knee (construction)
In woodworking, a knee is a curved piece of load-bearing wood that is often used to connect adjacent members at approximately right angles to one another...
is present on the wreck suggesting that the vessel was a high status merchantman bound for the tropics. Dendrochronology dates the ships timbers to 1628 from the Dutch/German Border.
Approximately 40% of the portside of the wreck remains from above the keel line to the stern
Aftcastle
An aftcastle is the upper deck of a sailing ship positioned behind the mizzenmast. It was used in medieval shipping such as galleys or galleasses to provide a heightened platform from which to fire upon other ships; it was also a place of defense in the event of boarding. More common, but much...
and bow castles
Forecastle
Forecastle refers to the upper deck of a sailing ship forward of the foremast, or the forward part of a ship with the sailors' living quarters...
.
Designation
The site was designated under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973Protection of Wrecks Act 1973
The Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which provides protection for designated shipwrecks. Section 1 of the act provides for wrecks to be designated because of historical, archaeological or artistic value. Section 2 provides for designation of...
, it was designated on the tenth of December 2004 , when heritage minister Andrew McIntosh said:
‘This is an important wreck… it is likely to be well preserved and rare in terms of its quality and the quantity of the surviving structure… This order is particularly timely as the location of the wreck has been publicised and we need to protect it from potential damage by divers visiting the site.’
Site Investigations
The site was first located in March 1990 when the Dutch dredger Scaldis hit an obstruction whilst dredging close to Buoy No 3 in the Swash Channel. Substantial timbers and a single iron cannon were brought to the surface. The cannon ended up in Poole Museum store but maritime archaeology in Poole was focused on the Studland Bay Wreck and no further investigation took place.In 2004 Wessex Archaeology
Wessex Archaeology
Wessex Archaeology is one of the largest private archaeological organisations operating in the United Kingdom, based near Salisbury in Wiltshire.-Background:...
on behalf of Poole Harbour Commissioners and Poole Borough Council conducted a geophysical survey and the site was re-discovered as a sidescan sonar anomaly Wessex Archaeology undertook a designated site assessment for English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
in 2005, recording a zone of structure c.20m in length and reporting that further remains were known to exist. The structure included parts of the ship’s forecastle, complete with galley
Galley (kitchen)
The galley is the compartment of a ship, train or aircraft where food is cooked and prepared. It can also refer to a land based kitchen on a naval base or a particular formed household kitchen.-Ship's kitchen:...
and gunports, which is extremely rare as ships’ upper works are usually destroyed during the wrecking. Importantly the structure showed signs of being recently exposed, and after a short time it was seen to be degrading.
Bournemouth University
Bournemouth University
Bournemouth University is a university in and around the large south coast town of Bournemouth, UK...
was approached by English Heritage in 2006 to investigate the possibility of undertaking a monitoring project as part of a student-training project. The purpose of the 2006 season was to set up a long-term “strategy for the future management of the SCW… [for the]… 2006-2011” season.
The archaeological investigation discovered that the protective hessian sandbags placed in 2005 had degraded exposing the wreck. The site was larger than thought; covering a 50m by 40m area with structural remains over 40m by 20m. More work than was originally predicted was required and with no further funding available, Bournemouth University negotiated sponsorship with a number of local organisations including Jenkins Marine http://www.jenkinsmarine.co.uk/, Poole Museum
Poole Museum
Poole Museum is a local history museum situated on the Lower High Street in the Old Town area of Poole, Dorset, and is part of the Borough of Poole Museum Service. Entrance to Poole Museum is free.-History:...
and Dorset Workboats http://www.dorsetworkboats.com/ to cover this extra work.
Since 2006 Bournemouth University
Bournemouth University
Bournemouth University is a university in and around the large south coast town of Bournemouth, UK...
continued to work on the wreck as a student training project allowing students to undertake the majority of the work including trials for establishing the most cost effective method of in situ stabilisation, and creating photomosaics of the site showing the site a whole for the first time. BU continued to monitor the site noting that sediment was being lost lowering sand levels across the site, by up to 350mm in some areas. The gradual exposure of new material has reached the point where extensive archaeological deposits that contain extremely vulnerable organic material are being exposed, rapidly degraded and eventually lost.
In 2010 English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
agreed to fund an excavation of the site by a BU led team of marine archaeologists undertook the largest underwater excavation in the UK since the Mary Rose
Mary Rose
The Mary Rose was a carrack-type warship of the English Tudor navy of King Henry VIII. After serving for 33 years in several wars against France, Scotland, and Brittany and after being substantially rebuilt in 1536, she saw her last action on 1545. While leading the attack on the galleys of a...
. The site was divided into 6m grids where two teams began excavating the sediment and recovering the small finds, once a grid was excavated the areas was photographed to create a photomosaic of the site. A third team worked on the recording and dismantling of the Bow Castle
Forecastle
Forecastle refers to the upper deck of a sailing ship forward of the foremast, or the forward part of a ship with the sailors' living quarters...
ready for raising and preserving.
The Bow Castle was raised in May 2011 and future plans include the raising of the first 10m of the bow section and the 8m long carved rudder.
Artefacts
Over 1000 artefacts have been brought up as of 2010 these include various rigging blocks, barrels, pottery and personal items such as shoes, wooden bowls and tankards.The ship has also yielded 5 carvings of baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
style including two mermen, cherubim, and a classical style head carved on top of the rudder. These Carvings are being conserved by York Archaeological Trust
York Archaeological Trust
The York Archaeological Trust for Excavation and Research Limited is an educational charity, established in 1972 in the City of York. It carries out archaeological investigations, fieldwork, excavation and research in York, Yorkshire and throughout Britain and beyond.It also created and now runs...
with funding from BU and MAST.