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Marine archaeologists step in to save historic shipwreck artefacts
5 November 2024
Scores of artefacts from the golden age of the Royal Navy have been saved for the nation – before private collectors could snap them up.
Hundreds of objects were due to go under the hammer later this week as the historic collection from the Charlestown Shipwreck Museum, near St Austell in Cornwall, was broken up.
The museum was put up for sale with its entire inventory over the summer, including the ‘Protected Wreck’ collection – items recovered from a dozen sites which enjoy the same legal cover as the Mary Rose.
Those protected wrecks include a host of Royal Navy vessels from the age of sail:
- HMS Eagle and Romney, both wrecked off Scillies in 1707;
- HMS Ramillies, lost off Bolt Tail headland in Devon in 1760;
- HMS Colossus, another victim of the treacherous waters around the Scillies in 1798;
- and HMS Anson, which foundered on Loe Bar near Porthleven in 1807.
Historic England described the museum’s collection as the “largest and most important collection of artefacts from shipwrecks in the UK”, a collection at risk of being dispersed – and potentially ending up in private collectors’ hands – had it been auctioned as planned.
Stepping in to save the day is The Maritime Archaeology Sea Trust which has agreed a deal with the museum’s owner and will now take the shipwrecked objects under its wing.
It is especially pleasing as MAST is made up of members who themselves have dedicated so much of their lives to exploring our underwater heritage.
Over the coming months it will begin sorting and assessing its new acquisitions, conduct detailed studies before deciding how to proceed.
The intention ultimately is to share/loan objects with naval/maritime museums such as the National Museum of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth or Chatham’s Historic Dockyard to tell the story of the sacrifices made to keep trade flowing by sea in the days of sail – and also the work of archaeologists like MAST to preserve that history and heritage.
“I’m delighted – and relieved in equal measure – that the Maritime Archaeology Sea Trust has been able to save this priceless collection that can tell countless stories of the history and archaeology of the Royal Navy and the development of global trade through the centuries,” said Jessica Berry, its CEO
“MAST has now taken the collection out of private ownership so its risk of being dispersed again has now gone forever.”
Charlestown Shipwreck Museum’s owner Sir Tim Smit said he was delighted that he wouldn’t now see the collection dispersed.
“It is especially pleasing as MAST is made up of members who themselves have dedicated so much of their lives to exploring our underwater heritage,” he added.