29th September
Both flukes of the anchor are now visible and are intact. Approximately one fifth of the shank has been exposed on all sides, and it appears to be sound all the way along. The anchor flukes are lying flat on the seabed, parallel with the stem. The bulk of the artefacts in this area are post-Tudor, for example pipe stems and blue and white china, interspersed with the odd Tudor shoe and many animal bones. The structural timbers in this area so far represent collapsed, incoherent structure and we are now considering the possibility that the anchor may be the forecastle parallel of the anchor on the upper deck at the front of the stern castle. In form, the anchor we have on the seabed is similar to this anchor, 81A0646. The anchor on the seabed has a length of 4.85m and length across the flukes of 2.46m. There are several timbers attached to the lower portion of the anchor, we are currently enlarging the excavation to try and understand the relevance of these to the anchor and the stem.
A video survey along the length of the anchor was undertaken this evening. We plan to leave the anchor in the trench as long as possible in order to preserve its orientation relative to the stem and collapsed structure, In the meantime, we have trench faces of over 2 metres in depth and are taking these back to have good access all around for stropping the anchor. This weekend our underwater surveyor, Peter Holt, will be joining us for three days and next week we are expecting visits from the MoD, English Heritage and Wessex Archaeology. Today we spent 21.73 man hours underwater.
Alex Hildred
2nd October
Further examination beside the anchor ring revealed a small wrought breech chamber. This appears clear and may be lifted tomorrow. There are a number of smaller concretions close by, these may possibly be portions of wrought iron guns positioned in the bow. The anchor is now fully exposed and could be removed from the trench, but at present is serving as a useful survey point for the other objects within the area. There are floor timbers and concretions lying beside it, and these will be more fully explored tomorrow. Timbers in association with the anchor have been lifted. Many of these are portions of hull structure, but several may be eroded internal fittings such as deck supports. Over the weekend we were visited by Sarah Ward from the NAS, who helped Lesley Runnalls with the registration and wrapping of timbers. Peter Holt, from Sonardyne International, has been with us for the weekend undertaking further acoustic trials.
By mid-afternoon the stem was stropped up to a spreader bar held on the crane and was ready to lift out of the trench. A survey was undertaken to assess the stropping, and to reaffirm that no structural elements were attached to the stem, and that it was adequately supported and ready to be moved. The assessment confirmed that all was ready to begin the lift from the trench to the cradle pre-positioned on the seabed north of the bow area. This lift and the transfer to cradle was achieved over a 160 minute dive and the stem is now clear of the trench and safely on its cradle. Final adjustments to the stropping will be made before the lift to the surface on 11th October. The divers involved were Peter Magowan and Douglas McElvogue.
Alex Hildred
3rd October
Yesterday,
though busy with visitors, went well. In the morning from the
Trust we welcomed aboard Charles Barker and Sally Tyrrell, and
from the Guardian their reporter Maev Kennedy and her photographer.
Maev interviewed everyone, the results of which will be in the
Guardian today.
Much is being made of a possible wooden carving found attached to the southern anchor fluke. In outline this looks like a giant lolly -pop, with two concentric rings of possible carved petals based around a central boss, as would be expected for a Tudor Rose. The timber is heavily degraded and awaits further study ashore, after which a more definitive interpretation will be given.
The photographer, whom we know from the previous years, did a splendid job of taking photographs of the divers and crew onboard, and we look forward to seeing them published in the newspapers. As ever the divers (Darren and Dan), itching just to get in the water and get working, were very patient as they performed for the photographer.
In the afternoon our friends at the MoD, Mike Power, Steve Berridge and Enid Evans came out for a guided tour with John Lippiett. Both Doug and Chris were in the water taking advantage of good visibility to carry on further investigation on the western timbers and record the structure around the anchor. After we waved goodbye to John and the MOD visitors, work carried on apace uncovering further starboard structure around the anchor and more of the port side. The site is revealing more of the structure than anyone anticipated, including important ships fittings such as a possible cat davit.
Doug McElvogue
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