Culture, Eco & Environment, History, Weymouth | Posted on August 14th, 2024 | return to news
Weymouth shipwreck granted special protection by the government
The ‘Earl of Abergavenny’ was a cargo ship that sank off the coast of Weymouth in 1805. The shipwreck has now been given government protection.
Over 200 years ago, a cargo ship belonging to the East India Company sank approximately 1.5 miles off the coast of Weymouth on 5 February 1805, after striking the Shambles sandbank. Today, the wreck of the ‘Earl of Abergavenny’ has been granted special protection by the government.
This protection, organised by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on the advice of Historic England, means divers can explore the shipwreck but must leave its contents where they are.
The Earl was launched in 1796 in Northfleet, Kent. It was one of the first ships to use iron in its construction and played a role in growing Britain’s economy.
By the 19th century, the ship was captained by John Wordsworth, brother of the famous poet William Wordsworth.
Captain John Wordsworth led the Earl on two successful voyages to China, but tragedy struck in 1805 during his fifth trading voyage from Portsmouth to Bengal and China. Due to stormy weather and human error, the ship hit a sandbank and sank, leading to the death of John and 250 crewmen and passengers.
Not only was the disaster a major loss of life, but the ship was also carrying 62 chests of Silver Dollars – cargo estimated to be worth £70,000 at the time, or around £7.5m today.
Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, said: “This wreck has an evocative story to tell about the life and sorrow of one of our most renowned poets, William Wordsworth. But it also has an important place in this country’s shared maritime history and how the East India Company’s fleet made its impact across so much of the world.
“Its protection is testament to the dedication and hard work of Chelmsford Underwater Archaeological Unit, Weymouth LUNAR Society and Portland Museum and their volunteers. Their efforts will help us all learn more about this vessel and its place in our shared past.”
The wreck now lies at a depth of 16 metres on the seabed, and much of it remains unexplored. Some artefacts recovered from the wreck in the 1980s, including a cufflink believed to have belonged to Captain John Wordsworth, are on display at the Portland Museum in Portland, Dorset.
David Carter, a trustee of Portland Museum, said: “I’m delighted the ‘Earl of Abergavenny’ has been granted protection. It played an important part in British history. Being involved in the underwater excavations from the 1980s and seeing the artefacts conserved and finding a home at the Portland Museum has been a major achievement. I’m proud of our volunteer team who make hundreds of finds from the wreck site digitally available and accessible to all.”
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