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On the stormy 21st October 1707, Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell, in command of a squadron of twenty one British men o' war approached the soundings of the Isles of Scilly. On his voyage from the Mediterranean, currents and foul weather had taken him off course and he was hopelessly lost. He though the British Channel 'was open and clear before him', but he was a hundred miles out in his reckoning. At eight bells on that dark and tempestuous night, the squadron 'became entangled on the treacherous rocks off the Islands of Scilly'. Four ships were lost and another so badly damaged she had to be beached. Many other vessels had hair's breadth escapes. Many officers were lost including the Admiral who although he had got safely away from his sinking flagship was murdered on reaching the shore.
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1. HMS Eagle lost on the Crim Rocks.
2. HMS Romney foundered in the region of the Crebinicks.
3. HMS Association struck the Gilstone Rock and was lost.
4. HMS Firebrand, a fireship, was badly damaged while making her way to the safety of St Agnes Island, and foundered in Smith Sound. |
HMS Eagle, a 90 gun Man-O-War was one of Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell's squadron, she foundered on Crim rocks, South of Samson on the Isles of Scilly.
This restored beam support was found at the wreck site.
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This model based on HMS Eagle, shows the construction of the ship. It would have taken approxamately 300 oak trees to build the Man o' war and a workforce of almost 150 men. |
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HMS Association another of Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell's squadron struck the Gilstone Rock and sank.
This crest from the 'Association' was given by the Isles of Scilly to Penzance Town, in return for a shipload of potatoes in a time of famine. |
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The Mary Rose
This Tudor warship was built between 1509 and 1511 and was one of the first to be able to fire a broadside. She was a firm favourite of King Henry VIII and served in his navy for 34 years.
In July 1545 she sank off the coast of England with the loss of 700 men. It is claimed by the French that they sent her to the seabed with a cannon shot but much evidence points towards either overloading or poor handling.
The wreck of the Mary Rose was discovered in 1836. Surrounded by much media coverage, she was raised from her resting place in 1982 after 437 years lying undisturbed on the seabed.
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She is now a focal point of interest and restoration at Portsmouth where visitors can observe the extensive work being undertaken from the viewing galleries.
The fine silt of the Solent preserved her weapons of war and many personal possessions including clothing, creating a unique view of Tudor life aboard the ship in which these men lived, fought and died. She was also loaded with gold and silver coins for trade and to pay crews wages.
Included in our fascinating display are many artefacts such as cannons dating back to the fifteenth century, anchor rope and stone cannonballs.
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