Swash Channel Wreck facts for kids
The Swash Channel Wreck is the remains of an old ship from the early 1600s. It was likely a large merchant ship, possibly from the Netherlands, that sank outside Poole Harbour in England. This ship was about 40 meters long and weighed around 600 tonnes. It was probably involved in early international trade.
Experts believe it was a fancy merchant ship heading to warmer places, like the tropics. They know this because of things found on the wreck. For example, it had only a few guns, a special kitchen area (called a galley), and beautiful carvings. Also, the wood used to build the ship has been dated to 1628, coming from the border area between the Netherlands and Germany.
About 40% of the ship's left side is still there. This includes parts from above the bottom of the ship all the way to the front and back sections.
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Protecting the Shipwreck
The Swash Channel Wreck is a very important historical site. Because of this, it was officially protected on December 10, 2004. This protection helps keep the wreck safe from damage, especially from divers who might visit the site.
Historic England, a group that looks after historical places, now manages this protected shipwreck. This means they make sure it stays safe and is studied properly.
Discovering and Studying the Wreck
The shipwreck was first found in March 1990. A Dutch ship called the Scaldis was digging (dredging) near Poole Harbour and hit something. Large pieces of wood and an iron cannon came to the surface. The cannon was taken to the Poole Museum, but no more work was done on the wreck at that time.
Rediscovery and Early Surveys
In 2004, the site was found again by Wessex Archaeology. They were using special equipment that could "see" things on the seabed. They found a large area of the ship's structure, about 20 meters long. Even better, parts of the ship's upper deck, including the kitchen (galley) and gun openings, were still there. This is very rare because the top parts of old ships usually get destroyed when they sink.
However, the experts noticed that the wreck was starting to break down because it was exposed to the water.
Bournemouth University's Role
In 2006, Bournemouth University started working with English Heritage to study the wreck. Their goal was to create a plan for how to look after the Swash Channel Wreck for many years.
They found that the protective sandbags placed in 2005 had worn away, leaving the wreck exposed again. The site was much bigger than first thought, covering an area of 50 by 40 meters. More work was needed, and local groups helped fund it.
Bournemouth University continued to work on the wreck as a training project for students. Students learned how to stabilize the wreck and create detailed maps of the site using photos. They also noticed that sand levels around the wreck were dropping, exposing more of the ship. This meant that very old and delicate parts of the ship were being uncovered and quickly damaged.
Major Excavation and Discoveries
Because the wreck was in danger, English Heritage decided to fund a big excavation in 2010. A team of marine archaeologists, led by Bournemouth University, began the largest underwater dig in the UK since the famous Mary Rose ship was raised.
The site was divided into 6-meter squares. Teams carefully dug away the sand and found many small items. After each square was dug, it was photographed to create a complete picture of the site. Another team worked on preparing the ship's front section, called the Bow Castle, to be brought to the surface.
In May 2011, the Bow Castle was successfully raised. Then, in 2013, an 8-meter-long carved rudder was also brought up. In March 2017, the ship was finally given a name: the Fame.
Amazing Artifacts Found
By 2010, over 1000 items had been recovered from the Swash Channel Wreck. These include many different objects that tell us about life on board the ship:
- Parts of the ship's rigging (ropes and pulleys)
- Barrels
- Pottery
- Personal items like shoes, wooden bowls, and drinking mugs
The ship also had five beautiful carvings in a fancy style called baroque. These include two mermen (half-man, half-fish figures), cherubs (angel-like figures), and a classical-style head carved on top of the rudder. These amazing carvings are being carefully preserved by experts.
