Eerie never-seen-before underwater footage reveals 17th century ship that sank while carrying future King of England
THIS is the never-seen-before eerie footage of a 17th century shipwreck that went down ferrying the future King of England.
The bottom and hull of the ship is buried in sand but divers could spot the anchor, rope and cannon, which sat untouched for nearly 350-years.
Located off the Norfolk coast, the Gloucester wreck was discovered and filmed by expert divers, brothers Julian and Lincoln Barnwell.
Each diver took 2,000 photographs across two cameras on their expedition.
History books tell us the 17th century ship sank in 1682 while carrying the Duke of York, who would become King James II.
While the royal survived, it has been documented hundreds of passengers and crew tragically lost their lives.
Their clothes, shows, navigation equipment, and personal possessions have been retrieved from the underwater site.
Bottles were even found underneath the cannons, giving a glimpse into the last moments before the ship went down.
They will be displayed for the very first time at Norwich Castle Museum, as part of The Last Voyage of The Gloucester: Norfolk’s Royal Shipwreck exhibition.
Diving explorer Lincoln said: “We’re delighted to be able to share these glimpses of the wreck site, more of which visitors will be able to see in the exhibition, and excited to share the rescued artefacts for the first time with the public.
“The footage also highlights how vulnerable the wreck is, with fishing nets visible, and artefacts exposed on the surface of the seabed.
“This dynamic wreck site is clearly ‘at risk’ and there is a real urgency to secure the heritage of the Gloucester and the connected artefacts.”
His brother Julian added: “The discovery of the Gloucester has been an incredible adventure for all three of us, and we feel very honoured that its story is being told in such a professional and detailed manner.
“We’ve found exposed bottles right underneath cannons so they look pretty cool sitting there.”
“We are confident that anyone who visits the exhibition will come away with a better understanding of the events of May 6, 1682, and not only their historical and political impacts, but also the human impact on the individuals involved.”
Maritime Archaeology Trust member Garry Momber said: “This shipwreck is pretty special, it’s in tact, and full of so much material.
“It’s looking great and you can see a lot more of the wreck, and you really understand the potential of the site.
“This is really by far the most significant wreck we have ever dived on.”
UEA maritime history expert, Professor Claire Jowitt, is a researcher for the Glouscester shipwreck project, she said: “Until now, only a handful of people have been able to see what the Gloucester wreck site looks like.
“This footage, together with the artefacts and ongoing historical research, will help underline the importance of Britain’s maritime heritage to our island story.”
Commenting on the work to survey the wreck, Mr Momber, Director of the Maritime Archaeology Trust, said: “The deep water within which the site lies and the low visibility provided challenging conditions for site surveys.
“However, every minute spent underwater on such a historically important site was invaluable, allowing us to take almost seven thousand photographs during the diving mission in 2022 to record the wreck in fine detail, and enable the creation of a 3D model.
“Now the public can see through the murk to the collapsed ship on the seabed and gain an insight into the archaeological potential that remains.
“Significantly, we can also see the impact of shifting sands that are covering and uncovering different areas of the ship, exposing it to ongoing degradation.”
The exhibition will run from Saturday, February 25 until Sunday, September 10, 2023.
The museum is open 10am to 4.30pm Monday to Saturday and 1pm to 4.30pm on Sundays.