The Northumberland was a third rate 70 gun ship of the line, built as part of Samuel Pepys' 'Thirty Ships' building programme following the Anglo-Dutch war. Sheltering by Goodwin Sands she was caught in the Great Storm of 1703 and sank along with the Stirling Castle and Restoration also third rates and the Mary a fourth rate vessel.
The wreck was located in 1980 along with the Restoration, following the systematic investigation of records of net fastenings. The site consists of a low mound of various archaeological material from which a ship's bell was recovered what provided an identification for the wreck site. The site was believed to have been vulnerable to the movement of sands in the area although in 2003 Wessex Archaeology reported the site to be relatively stable.
The wreck was designated in 1981, under the Protection of Wrecks Act (1973). The site is administered by English Heritage and the licensee monitors the site.
Wessex Archaeology's Diving Investigation
In 2003 Wessex Archaeology conducted diving operations as part of the Protection of Wrecks Act contract.
During the investigation an initial swim over survey was completed in order to monitor the site for significant recent change, using the licensee's site plan as a reference. Following this the wreck was surveyed using the diver tracking system in order to position all of the 'large' features along with any exposed timbers and existing datum points.
Following the surveying of the wreck new sketched site plans were completed to represent the condition of the wreck during the diving, and for use in comparisons on future investigations.
A full copy of the report is available to download in .pdf format below.
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The wreck was located in 1980 along with the Restoration, following the systematic investigation of records of net fastenings. The site consists of a low mound of various archaeological material from which a ship's bell was recovered what provided an identification for the wreck site. The site was believed to have been vulnerable to the movement of sands in the area although in 2003 Wessex Archaeology reported the site to be relatively stable.
The wreck was designated in 1981, under the Protection of Wrecks Act (1973). The site is administered by English Heritage and the licensee monitors the site.
Wessex Archaeology's Diving Investigation
In 2003 Wessex Archaeology conducted diving operations as part of the Protection of Wrecks Act contract.
During the investigation an initial swim over survey was completed in order to monitor the site for significant recent change, using the licensee's site plan as a reference. Following this the wreck was surveyed using the diver tracking system in order to position all of the 'large' features along with any exposed timbers and existing datum points.
Following the surveying of the wreck new sketched site plans were completed to represent the condition of the wreck during the diving, and for use in comparisons on future investigations.
A full copy of the report is available to download in .pdf format below.
INSERT PDF REPORT
INSERT_MAP