RECEIVER OF WRECK AND MARY ROSE SINK EBAY PIRATE
The Receiver of Wreck, together with the Mary Rose Trust, issued a warning today to those tempted to purchase objects on the internet auction house eBay, or elsewhere, that are listed as having come from the wreck of the Mary Rose.
The Trust states that such items are highly unlikely to have come from the Mary Rose, and if they are, they will have been acquired illegally. Anyone who sees such an item is advised to contact the Trust to ascertain provenance.
The warning has come as a result of a recent attempt by an individual to sell a cannon ball on eBay for over £5,000 claiming that it had come from the Mary Rose. The Mary Rose Trust were alerted to the sale by one of the divers who had worked on the excavation and knew that the Trust has a policy that all artefacts from the excavation are kept in the Mary Rose collection with many of them on display at the museum in Portsmouth. The Mary Rose is one of 55 sites in the UK that are designated under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973.
The Mary Rose Trust believed that the items must either be from another source, or have been acquired illegally, and passed the matter on to the Receiver of Wreck who has powers to seize illegally held wreck material and to investigate such matters under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.
The Receiver of Wreck worked in conjunction with eBay, and with Hampshire Police Marine Unit, who confiscated 14 cannonballs from the premises of the vendor. These were later inspected by Curator of Ordnance at the Mary Rose Trust, Alexzandra Hildred, who confirmed that they had none of the features found on shot from the Mary Rose. Enquiries into the origins of the shot are still being conducted by the Police Marine Unit and it is believed they are 18th or 19th century in date and were recovered on the shores of the River Hamble.
The Receiver of Wreck, Sophia Exelby said:
“This joint operation shows that the Maritime and Coastguard Agency is willing and able to act on credible information received in relation to offences regarding illegally held wreck material. Although these cannonballs did not ultimately come from the Mary Rose, the principles of investigation and enforcement are the same and will be applied to any other such cases which arise.”
John Lippiett, Chief Executive of the Mary Rose Trust said:
“We are delighted that the Receiver of Wreck took swift action to investigate the claim that this iron shot was from the Mary Rose. There should not be any artefacts from the Mary Rose in private hands apart from a few curios made from Mary Rose timber recovered in the 1830s and we would always like to be alerted to any fraudulent or illegal sales.
“We are relieved that the shot turned out to be nothing to do with the Mary Rose, but are not pleased that the vendor tried to pass them off as genuine and even used a photograph taken without authority from our website.”
20/12/04
2,500 YEAR-OLD GREEK SHIP COMES TO THE MARY ROSE
On 17th November the remains of a two and a half thousand year old Greek trading vessel were delivered to the laboratories of the Mary Rose Trust in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard for conservation.
The ship was discovered in 1988 at a depth of 5 metres in several layers of silt about 800 metres from the coastline off the city of Gela in southern Sicily. The craft was dated to around 500 - 480 BC and was built from pine planks that were fastened both with copper and iron nails and sewn together with plant-fibre cords. The boat measured some 18 metres long by about 6.8 metres in width. Preliminary studies suggest that it was a trading vessel, equipped with one square sail and oars (which have been recovered) plying a route along the Sicilian coast that stopped off at the local emporia.
On the interior of the hull, fabric was inserted along the seams to prevent the seepage of water and the inner surface was sealed with pitch as additional waterproofing. Fragments of lead plates have also been found suggesting that the vessel might have been sheathed as protection against shipworm attack.
The cargo consisted of a wide variety of objects of significant value: Attic and Ionic pottery, amphorae, jars, pitchers and votive altars. Along with these were eight woven baskets that were also coated in pitch.
The excavation was conducted during the summer of 2004 and succeeded in raising some 700 timbers or fragments. The timbers were shipped to the Mary Rose laboratories at Portsmouth to undergo a five year conservation programme which will end with the vessel being assembled and returned to a new museum in Gela.
John Lippiett, the Mary Rose Trust's Chief Executive explained: "Among the archaeologists working on the site was Paola Palma, a member of our staff. It soon became apparent that we could offer the best equipment including the largest vacuum freeze-dryer in the world and expertise to conserve the Gela Boat and so, following a deal negotiated with the Italian authorities by Paola, the boat was carefully packed for its long journey North. Securing conservation projects of this calibre help us considerably to support the ongoing and critical work of conserving the hull and collection of the Mary Rose."
23 November 2004
Mary Rose Trust Reaches TV Audience of 4.8 million people
Two programmes featuring the Mary Rose on Friday 29 October were seen by 4.8 million viewers. They received good reviews in the press and an enthusiastic reception from the public judging by feedback being received both by the Mary Rose Trust and by the producers.
The peak viewing figures for the BBC 2 Timewatch documentary screened at 9pm was 3 million – the highest number so far for this series of Timewatch Programmes. A further 1.8 million saw the project featured on Channel 4’s Richard and Judy programme at around 5.30pm. During the show, Richard and Judy interviewed Maritime Archaeologist Christopher Dobbs who had brought a number of objects found on the wreck site during the excavations to the studio for the programme. These included conserved items from the original excavation as well as objects from this year’s dive including a ‘concretion’. [Concretions are encrusted lumps that form when iron corrodes on the seabed – often trapping other objects within them.] The concretion was broken open by Richard Madeley live during the broadcast and it contained seven large musket balls made of iron and lead. Richard remarked with great enthusiasm how these Tudor objects had not been seen by anyone else in the last 450 years.
If you saw either of these programmes and would like to support the work of the Mary Rose Trust, please respond in the ‘support us’ section of this website.
1 November 2004
Mary Rose Celebrates the 10th Anniversary of the Heritage Lottery FundDuring November, the Mary Rose Trust is joining with other charities in wishing the Heritage Lottery Fund a Happy Tenth Birthday. A photographic exhibition will be displayed in the foyer of the Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth outlining the many ways the HLF has supported the Mary Rose during this period.
The Mary Rose Trust is very grateful for the support that it has received from the HLF, without which it would not have been possible to achieve many of the vital programmes of conservation, display, access and publication. HLF funding has helped in many ways including:
• Safeguarding the current home of the ship
with a new Ship Hall roof and helping to determine her future with
a feasibility study for a new museum.
• Providing the vital controlled air-drying chambers, essential
to our understanding of the conservation requirements of the hull.
• Funding the physical conservation of the ship, including
crucial provision for the second and final stage of active conservation.
• Helping to upgrade the conservation laboratories, complete
with teaching facilities so that expertise can be shared
• Refurbishing the Ship Hall, including improvements to the
viewing galleries that will enhance the visitor experience.
• Enabling the publication of a definitive report on the excavation,
study and conservation of the Mary Rose.
The conservation programme is ground-breaking, and has established the Trust as a world authority in the treatment of waterlogged archaeological wood with the knowledge and facilities to provide help to others.
Supporting the publication programme enables us to disseminate the results of the archaeological work. There is so much we can learn from the Mary Rose and her contents, and the published work will be a unique resource, revealing new insights into Tudor times.
Without HLF support, the continuing success of this work would not be possible.
Thank you HLF.
3 November 2004
BBC2 Timewatch DocumentaryThis major new documentary film from BBC Timewatch, entitled 'Secrets of the Mary Rose' looks at some of the detailed archaeological detective work that has been researched by the Mary Rose team over the last two decades. It will also bring the audience right up to date with the latest dives out on the site this year, as the team uncovered evidence of the bow structure - giving a tantalising glimpse of the remains of the Mary Rose that might still lie buried in the seabed.
The film includes dramatic reconstructions and
detailed graphics to give an insight into a lost world. What emerges
is a detailed picture of what life would have been like on a Tudor
Warship. 'Secrets of the Mary Rose' tells the story of not only
the artefacts discovered on board - such as cooking utensils, prayer
books, weapons - but also reveals the stories of the sailors themselves.
Maritime Archaeologist Christopher Dobbs says " What we have
tried to do at the Trust with our experimental archaeology and reconstructions
over the past few years is to bring aspects of the collection to
life. But the BBC film has been able to take these interpretations
one stage further and using the dramatic reconstructions gives an
extra dimension to a picture of life on board ."
The return to the site this year that features in the BBC film has been made possible by ongoing investigations by the Ministry of Defence into the best route for the deepwater channel required for their new aircraft carriers. No decisions have yet been taken, but the results of this year's dive will assist them in their final decision. The Mary Rose Trust are working closely with both the MoD and English Heritage who have overall responsibility for the long term management of the protected historic wreck site.
2004 Finds to go on show at half termFor a limited time at half term, some of the objects found during the recent dives will be on show at the Mary Rose Museum together with over 1,200 objects from the original excavation that are on permanent display. Looking just as they did when they came out of the seabed, they are still immersed in water to prevent them deteriorating. After half term they will be taken back to the Trust's conservation laboratories for treatment.
20 October 2004
MARY ROSE OCTOBER 2004 ANNIVERSARY LECTURE PROGRAMMEThis well attended lecture programme (140 people) was a great success and, as can be seen from the list of topics, covered a wide range of fascinating subjects. Next year's programme is scheduled for Saturday 8 October - so put the date in your diary now. Further details will be avilable next summer.
SATURDAY 9 OCTOBER - details and tickets from Chris, Gill or Helen on 02392 750521
At: Action Stations Auditorium, Boathouse 6, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Conference Chairman and Organiser: Christopher Dobbs
10.15 Welcome (and admin matters) Mary Rose Trust
10.20 The Navigational Instruments from the Mary Rose - Alan Stimson
11.00 The Ship's Carpenter on the Mary Rose and his tools - Colin
McKewan
11.40 Coffee
11.55 Using GIS technology and the Cowdray engraving to study the
sinking of the Mary Rose - Dr Dominic Fontana
12.20 Woodturning, pole lathes and the Mary Rose wooden bowls -
Robin Wood
13.00 Lunch
14.10 Diving on the Mary Rose in the 1830s. The story of John and
Charles Deane - Dr John Bevan
14.50 Filming the Mary Rose project for BBC 'Timewatch' - Reconstructions,
replicas and reality - John Hayes Fisher
15.30 The Power and the Glory. Was the Mary Rose a tool for state-building?
- Dr Jon Adams
16.20 Tea
16.35 Returning to the Mary Rose site - The 2004 Dive - Project
Alex Hildred
17.30 Questions / discussion
17.35 Future Challenges / Closing Address etc. - John Lippiett,
CEO, Mary Rose Trust
17.50 Depart building
18.00 Depart Dockyard
We are grateful to our Dockyard partners, ACTION STATIONS for their kind sponsorship towards this event
23 Sept 04
Coat of Navy Blue
A lighthearted Concert on the history of the Royal Navy, in aid
of the Mary Rose Trust, will take place in Portsmouth Anglican Cathedral
on Friday 8th October starting at 7pm.
Tickets £7 from Gill Armstrong on 01283-750521.
21 Sept 04
Mary Rose Reunion on Radio 4
The Reunion programme, talking to the original dive team on BBC
Radio 4, should now be broadcast on 29th August with a repeat the
following Friday.
6 August
LAST 5 YEARS OF SPRAYING UNDERWAY
The Conservation Team at the Mary Rose are currently fitting a new spray system in the Ship Hall at the Mary Rose so that a more concentrated form of the chemical Poly Ethylene Glycol (PEG) can be sprayed on the hull. This will be a thicker, hotter mix tha before and will coat the outer layers of the timbers and seal them. This will take 5 years and then the sprays will be turned off and the ship will be revealed in her full glory. A further 3 to 4 years will be needed for the hull to dry out in environmentally controlled conditions. By that time there should be no physical barrier between the visitors and the ship.
This conservation programme is being partially funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, which has given over £4M for this phase of the conservation. However, the Mary Rose Trust has had to raise over £1M in matching funding and its fundraising campaign urgently requires your help! Every £10 given, through the tax efficient Gift Aid system, will become £52 once the Lottery have made their contribution. Please, take this opportunity to help save this unique part of our national heritage. Details can be found on the web site under “Support Us”.
26 July 2004
SONY LINKS SEA BED TO MUSEUMThe Mary Rose Trust, today, welcomed the announcement from the Ministry of Defence that they would fund a 3 week excavation of the historic wreck site of Henry VIII's favourite warship, the Mary Rose. The dive is to be broadcast live direct to the Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard via a video link, fitted by Sony UK, from the dive vessel moored in The Solent.
The announcement follows last year's successful dive season to find what still remains at the wreck site. That dive concluded with the announcement of a significant find – a huge stem timber – trailed as the missing jigsaw piece in the construction of the Mary Rose.
The dive will be a joint operation with the Ministry of Defence and follows the results of a geophysical survey by HMS Gleaner last September for a proposed channel due to be dredged through the approach to Portsmouth Harbour in anticipation of a new generation of aircraft carriers.
The Mary Rose Trust's Chief Executive explained: “The dive last year was very successful but left us tantalisingly close to uncovering what could be an essential part of the Mary Rose. This year we intend to return to the bow area and excavate to find the extent of the timbers that may still lie under the mud. Both archaeologists and the MoD are anxious to know the results.”
“Our visiting public will be able to follow progress on the seabed and above water with our special broadcast, courtesy of Sony UK – a first for the museum.”
A press brief to launch the video link and unveil a museum model of the diving bell – sponsored by Sony - will take place on Thursday 29th July at 1100 at the Mary Rose Museum, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Full details of the dive will be posted on the Mary Rose web site, Technology permitting, it is hoped that videos will also be available there.
MARY ROSE SAILORS COMMEMORATED IN CATHEDRAL SERVICEOn Sunday 18th July the lives of the more than 500 sailors who died when the Mary Rose sank in The Solent on 19th July 1545 were commemorated in a Service in Portsmouth Anglican Cathedral.
The commemoration formed part of the Cathedral's normal Eucharist Service but during it the Lord Lieutenant, Mrs Mary Fagan, laid a wreath at the tomb of the unknown sailor from the Mary Rose. This was accompanied by the playing of Last Post and Reveille by Cadets from The Royal Marines Light Infantry Cadets Marching Band while a Guard of Honour was supplied by costumed archers from the Mary Rose Trust. The lessons were read by Admiral Sir Kenneth Eaton, for the Mary Rose Trust, and the Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Tom Blair, on behalf of the City of Portsmouth. The address was be given by David Childs, Development Director of the Mary Rose, and a Lay Reader. During the Service ex-Portsmouth Grammar School boy, Brendon Bates, played the 'Fanfare for the Common Man'.
The Mary Rose was built in Portsmouth in 1510 and was crewed by many Portsmouth sailors. Her loss, after 34 years service, was devastating for a town with a much smaller population than the city has today. The Service will recognise the loss as an important event in the city's history and it is intended to mark the anniversary with a similar service every year.
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