Cotswold Archaeology has been appointed by Historic England to undertake archaeological assessments, including geophysical and diver surveys, of three designated sites. The purpose of the project is to assess whether the sites still merit designation. Langdon Bay, Brighton Marina and Hanover have not been fully assessed by archaeologists for many years so it is unclear what, if anything, survives.
- Bronze objects found in Langdon Bay in 1974 were made in France during the Middle Bronze Age and are rarely found in Britain. The wreck of the cargo vessel may lie within the Bay, although no remains have been identified.
- The Brighton Marina site, comprising bronze and iron ordnance and other associated material, is believed to represent an unidentified armed vessel, probably dating to the sixteenth century.
- The Hanover was a 100ft brigantine carrying £60,000 in gold and valuables when she was wrecked in a small bay on the North Cornish coast in 1763. The site was discovered in 1994 and has been tentatively identified by a bronze bell reported to have been recovered from the site that was inscribed ‘The Hanover Paquet 1757’.
Diver recording a cannon © Copyright Historic Scotland
