West Bay Wreck facts for kids
Imagine finding a sunken ship from hundreds of years ago! That's exactly what happened in 2004 off the coast of West Bay, Dorset, England. Divers discovered the remains of a 17th-century (that's the 1600s!) cargo ship. This special shipwreck is now protected by law under the Protection of Wrecks Act and looked after by Historic England. It's like a historical treasure that helps us learn about the past!
What Was Found on the Shipwreck?
This old ship probably sank sometime between 1627 and 1750. How do we know? Because a bronze gun was found there! This wasn't just any gun; it was a muzzle-loading gun, meaning you loaded it from the front.
Besides the gun, divers also found:
- Several iron bars
- Another iron gun
- Heavy rocks like slate and quartzite. These rocks are called ballast. Ballast is used to weigh a ship down and keep it stable in the water. These particular rocks seem to have come from southwest England or Northern France.
How Was the Shipwreck Discovered?
The shipwreck was found in 2004 by a group of local divers. They were exploring the Outer Pollock Reef when they stumbled upon the old ship's remains.
After the discovery, experts checked out the site in 2005. Today, students and researchers from Bournemouth University often visit the site to study it. They help us learn even more about this amazing piece of history hidden under the sea!
