Treasures of British warship sunk in 1703 storm finally revealed three centuries on
Shipwreck discovery could be ‘the missing link’
- The wreck of the 18th-century warship, the Northumberland, which sank in 1703 during the ‘Great Storm’, is being uncovered off the Kent coast.
- Shifting sands have revealed "exceptionally well-preserved" artefacts, including wooden chests, iron cannons, and copper cauldrons.
- Historians consider the Northumberland a "missing link" for understanding Stuart-period shipbuilding, built in 1679 as part of Samuel Pepys' English Navy regeneration.
- Experts warn that the newly exposed artefacts are at a "high risk of deterioration" from environmental factors like strong currents and wood-boring sea creatures.
- Future work may involve wood sampling to confirm the ship's identity and construction, with a related film set for release on 31 July.