Underwater footage offers new glimpse of royal shipwreck
Underwater footage of a 17th century royal shipwreck has been released ahead of a major exhibition opening this weekend exploring its last voyage.
The footage, filmed last summer by experienced divers and brothers Julian and Lincoln Barnwell, shows some of the remains of the Gloucester, which sank off the Norfolk coast in 1682 while carrying the future King of England and Scotland James Stuart, then the Duke of York. While the Duke survived, hundreds of passengers and crew lost their lives.
The ship is split down the keel and the remains of the hull are submerged in sand, but items including an anchor, rope and cannon are visible in the film, along with glass bottles. Also visible are fishing nets that have been lost over the years, which the team says highlights the ongoing vulnerability of the site.
It comes as final preparations are made for the launch tomorrow (February 25) of an exhibition, The Last Voyage of The Gloucester: Norfolk’s Royal Shipwreck, 1682, at Norwich Castle Museum.
On display for the first time are artefacts rescued from the wreck, including clothes and shoes, navigational equipment and personal possessions. The exhibition is co-curated by the University of East Anglia (UEA) and Norfolk Museums Service.
Some of the footage released today forms part of a film produced for the exhibition exploring the discovery of the wreck. It also features Garry Momber and Brandon Mason of the Maritime Archaeology Trust conducting photogrammetry of the wreck to produce a 3D model, which will give visitors a diver’s-eye interactive tour of the site. Mr Momber describes the wreck as the “most significant” they have ever dived.
After running aground on a sandbank on May 6, 1682, no-one knew the Gloucester’s exact whereabouts until it was found in 2007 by the Barnwells and their friend, retired ex-Royal Navy submariner and diver James Little. The ship’s identity was confirmed in 2012 and its discovery was made public in June 2022.
Lincoln said: “We’re delighted to be able to share these glimpses of the wreck site, more of which visitors will be able to see in the exhibition, and excited to share the rescued artefacts for the first time with the public.
“The footage also highlights how vulnerable the wreck is, with fishing nets visible, and artefacts exposed on the surface of the seabed. This dynamic wreck site is clearly ‘at risk’ and there is a real urgency to secure the heritage of the Gloucester and the connected artefacts.”
Julian added: “The discovery of the Gloucester has been an incredible adventure for all three of us, and we feel very honoured that its story is being told in such a professional and detailed manner.
“We are confident that anyone who visits the exhibition will come away with a better understanding of the events of May 6, 1682, and not only their historical and political impacts, but also the human impact on the individuals involved.”
As the academic par
Underwater footage of a 17th century royal shipwreck has been released ahead of a major exhibition opening this weekend exploring its last voyage.
The footage, filmed last summer by experienced divers and brothers Julian and Lincoln Barnwell, shows some of the remains of the Gloucester, which sank off the Norfolk coast in 1682 while carrying the future King of England and Scotland James Stuart, then the Duke of York. While the Duke survived, hundreds of passengers and crew lost their lives.
The ship is split down the keel and the remains of the hull are submerged in sand, but items including an anchor, rope and cannon are visible in the film, along with glass bottles. Also visible are fishing nets that have been lost over the years, which the team says highlights the ongoing vulnerability of the site.
It comes as final preparations are made for the launch tomorrow (February 25) of an exhibition, The Last Voyage of The Gloucester: Norfolk’s Royal Shipwreck, 1682, at Norwich Castle Museum.
On display for the first time are artefacts rescued from the wreck, including clothes and shoes, navigational equipment and personal possessions. The exhibition is co-curated by the University of East Anglia (UEA) and Norfolk Museums Service.
Some of the footage released today forms part of a film produced for the exhibition exploring the discovery of the wreck. It also features Garry Momber and Brandon Mason of the Maritime Archaeology Trust conducting photogrammetry of the wreck to produce a 3D model, which will give visitors a diver’s-eye interactive tour of the site. Mr Momber describes the wreck as the “most significant” they have ever dived.
After running aground on a sandbank on May 6, 1682, no-one knew the Gloucester’s exact whereabouts until it was found in 2007 by the Barnwells and their friend, retired ex-Royal Navy submariner and diver James Little. The ship’s identity was confirmed in 2012 and its discovery was made public in June 2022.
Lincoln said: “We’re delighted to be able to share these glimpses of the wreck site, more of which visitors will be able to see in the exhibition, and excited to share the rescued artefacts for the first time with the public.
“The footage also highlights how vulnerable the wreck is, with fishing nets visible, and artefacts exposed on the surface of the seabed. This dynamic wreck site is clearly ‘at risk’ and there is a real urgency to secure the heritage of the Gloucester and the connected artefacts.”
Julian added: “The discovery of the Gloucester has been an incredible adventure for all three of us, and we feel very honoured that its story is being told in such a professional and detailed manner.
“We are confident that anyone who visits the exhibition will come away with a better understanding of the events of May 6, 1682, and not only their historical and political impacts, but also the human impact on the individuals involved.”
As the academic par
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