Cotswold Archaeology has been commissioned by Historic England to create an interactive dive trail for non-divers for the wreck of the London. It will be user friendly and will include a variety of media to guide people around the wreck site.
The rare and well-preserved remains of the London, which blew up near Southend-on-Sea in 1665, were designated in 2008 under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973. The wreck provides an exceptional insight into the Navy during one of the most significant periods in England’s history – a time when British naval power was emerging on the European stage.
Built in Chatham in 1656 during the Interregnum, it was one of only three completed, and is the only surviving second rate ‘Large Ship’. The London formed part of the fleet which brought Charles II back to England at the restoration of the monarchy. The ship exploded with more than 300 casualties whilst preparing for battle in the Second Dutch war. The loss of the London was recorded by Samuel Pepys in his diary entry for March 8th 1665.
