A Late‐18th‐Century Merchantman Wrecked in the South Edinburgh Channel, Thames Estuary, England

Abstract

The South Edinburgh Channel wreck consists of the remains of a large, unidentified armed merchant ship whose cargo included a rare consignment of Swedish plate‐money, among other goods. The wreck was lost some time in the later part of the 18th century in the Thames Estuary and was uncovered briefly by natural means between 1972 and 1977. This allowed archaeological investigation, which was undertaken in very poor environmental conditions in the early days of maritime archaeology in the UK.

Key words:

• post‐medieval
• Sweden
• London
• East Indies
• plate‐money
• Long Sand

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank: PLA Diving Inspector A. Bradley, and divers R. Adkins, E. Grey, J. Hanson, R. C. Healy and Mr Woodcott; Lt Cdr J. White (PLA Hydrographic Officer), V. Heasman (PLA Senior Surveyor), E. Hobday (PLA Surveyor), Capt. D. Roberts (PLA Salvage & Services Officer) and his assistant K. Murray; Royal Navy Flag Officer Medway, and Lt S. Green and the crew of MFV 1256. Thanks are also due to T. Cousins, M. Dover and E. Rundle, colleagues at Bournemouth University; D. Lyon and S. McGrail, colleagues at the National Maritime Museum; J. Berry (MAST), M. Dean (Archaeological Diving Unit), G. Egan and J. Pearce (Museum of London), K. M. Way (Natural History Museum) and International Distillers & Vintners Ltd. (now part of Diageo Scotland plc). The publication of this work was made possible by a Caird Short‐Term Research Fellowship from the National Maritime Museum.