Treasure hunter accidentally discovers 200-year-old shipwreck on British channel island

Metal detectorist finds copper remnants believed to belong to HMS Severn from 1794

The HMS Severn was damaged and lost in December 1804 after rescue efforts failed in difficult weather conditions (Jonathan Bull/SWNS)

The remnants of a 200-year-old shipwreck have been found on a beach on the island of Jersey.

Around 21 pieces of copper sheathing were found by metal detectorist Jonathan Bull, who described the find as a “bucket list” moment.

The pieces of metal are thought to belong to the HMS Severn and one is stamped “1794” – the year the ship finished undergoing a refit at Plymouth dockyard.

They were found in the Royal Bay of Grouville on Jersey. Records show the Severn was damaged nearby, stranded in the bay with a broken rudder.

Jonathan Bull said: “We were there to recover something else and we ended up doing a bit of detecting and found some small pieces of copper.

“All of which had naval broad arrows on them along with the square nail holes.

“I knew instantly that it was something old and naval.

“We found three bits of copper and had a chat that evening and decided that we should probably go back down.

“The next day some big sheets came up – there were 21 in total and six were complete.”

Mr Bull, who has been metal detecting for five years, added he then declared the find to the receiver of the wreck and handed the items over to Jersey Heritage.

He continued: “I am really happy and surprised – I knew there were bits and pieces down there – but not that much.

“I was particularly happy about how the sheets had been date-marked.

“It is definitely the Severn. I do not know how it cannot be.

“Although the ship was built in 1786, we know that it underwent a refit in 1793 and had the copper fitted to it and it headed out in the summer of 1794.”

According to records, the HMS Severn was damaged in December 1804 during a gale in the Royal Bay of Grouville.

She broke her rudder, one fluke of her anchor and damaged her bottom.

It was intended that Thisbe, a ship from Guernsey, would recover Severn but deteriorating conditions prevented it from doing so.

Soldiers from the nearby Fort Henry and Fort William, along with local residents, are said to have tried to save the ship and her crew but were unable to do so.

It was only when another boat Alcmene intervened that her crew were successfully rescued.

SWNS