Unknown Wreck Site
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Maritime Wreck
- List Entry Number:
- 1464317
- Date first listed:
- 05-Jul-2019
Location
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Official list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Maritime Wreck
- List Entry Number:
- 1464317
- Date first listed:
- 05-Jul-2019
- Location Description:
- Located some 14km south-east of Beachy Head.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This list entry identifies a protected site which is understood to be the site of a vessel lying wrecked on or in the seabed. It's protected because of the historical, archaeological or artistic importance of the vessel, or of objects contained or formerly contained in it which may be lying on the seabed in or near the wreck.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This list entry identifies a protected site which is understood to be the site of a vessel lying wrecked on or in the seabed. It's protected because of the historical, archaeological or artistic importance of the vessel, or of objects contained or formerly contained in it which may be lying on the seabed in or near the wreck.
Location
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- Marine Location Name:
- EASTBOURNE EAST SUSSEX
- Latitude:
- 50.65043
- Longitude:
- 0.3967
- National Grid Reference:
- TV6952886157
Summary
A wooden wreck site associated with cannon, galley bricks, concreted objects and large dressed stone blocks.
Reasons for Designation
The unidentified wooden wreck site off Eastbourne is designated as a Protected Wreck for the following principal reasons:
* Historical importance: the discovery of an assemblage of cannon, and the association of other material provides an initial interpretation that this wreck comprises the remains of a C17 Dutch vessel.
* Archaeological importance: The recent discovery of this wreck is suggestive of a long period of burial which indicates the possible presence of a small finds and organic material.
History
The wreck was first identified in Easter 2019 when a dive charter, based out of Eastbourne, took two divers out to dive an unidentified obstruction recorded by the UK Hydrographic Office. During this dive cannon were observed on the seabed.
On 29 and 30 April 2019, the charter returned to the site with members of the Nautical Archaeology Society (NAS) to explore the wreck in more detail. In a verbal report made to Historic England, the NAS confirmed the presence of at least thirteen cannon, some of which had markings on them. Divers also saw galley bricks, miscellaneous concreted objects, large dressed stone blocks and the probable base of a copper cauldron.
Initial assessment, based on the cannon and galley brick morphology, indicates that the wreck may be of C17 Dutch origin, perhaps associated with either the Battle of Portland (1652) or the Battle of Beachy Head (1690); documentary research is on-going. If the wreck does represent the remains a former Dutch vessel, then it remains in the ownership of the Government of The Netherlands.
The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) record for the wreck indicates that it was first recorded in 2015, perhaps suggestive of a long period of burial and the presence of small finds and organic material. The UKHO survey data records a strong magnetic anomaly (most likely due to the presence of iron cannon and other ferrous artefacts).
The lack of a NRHE record for the wreck site confirms that this is a new discovery.
Details
Designation Order: 1068, 2019 Made: 1 July 2019 Laid before Parliament: 4 July 2019 Coming into force: 5 July 2019.
Protected area: 100 metres within 50.65043, 0.39670.
No part of the restricted area lies above the high-water mark of ordinary spring tides.
This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 05/12/2019
Sources
Books and journals
McDonald, K, A Diver Guide, Dive Sussex (2003),
Bender, J, Dutch Warships in the Age of Sail 1600 - 1714 (2014),
Legal
This site is designated under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 as it is or may prove to be the site of a vessel lying wrecked on or in the sea bed and, on account of the historical, archaeological or artistic importance of the vessel, or of any objects contained or formerly contained in it which may be lying on the sea bed in or near the wreck, it ought to be protected from unauthorised interference. Protected wreck sites are designated by Statutory Instrument. The following information has been extracted from the relevant Statutory Instrument.
Statutory Instrument
Information provided under the Statutory Instrument heading below forms part of the official record of a protected wreck site. Information provided under other headings does not form part of the official record of the designation. It has been compiled by Historic England to aid understanding of the protected wreck site.
Statutory Instruments: 2019/1068
Chart
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 14-Dec-2025 at 21:23:00.
Download a full scale chart (PDF)© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2025. OS AC0000815036. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100024900.© British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2025. All rights reserved. Licence number 102006.006.
End of official list entry