HMS Northumberland 1703
HMS Northumberland fought in the war of the Grand Alliance. The Northumberland was a 3rd rate ship, 152 feet long, with a beam of 45 feet, armed with 70 cannon and was built by Bailey at Bristol in 1679. In 1701 she had a comprehensive refit at Chatham.
The Northumberland was lost with all hands in the Great Storm, on the 27th of November 1703, foundering upon the Goodwin Sands. Her commander, Captain Greenway, was among the 220 men who drowned. HMS Stirling Castle was also lost in the same storm and was wrecked nearby.
The storm that sank the Northumberland was one of the fiercest storms of the 18th century and it sank many English vessels from the East coast of England to the coast of Holland. It was known as 'The Great Storm of 1703' and was a destructive extratropical cyclone that struck central and southern England on the 26th of November 1703. Ships were blown hundreds of miles off course and over 1,000 seamen died on the Goodwin Sands alone.
News bulletins of casualties and damage were sold all over England, which was a novelty at that time. One such article, published in 1710 in a book entitled, "God's wonders in the Great Deep, or, The Seaman's Danger and Deliverance Exemplified" includes an account of the ships lost upon the Goodwin Sands mentions the Northumberland in a chapter entitled:
The Northumberland was lost with all hands in the Great Storm, on the 27th of November 1703, foundering upon the Goodwin Sands. Her commander, Captain Greenway, was among the 220 men who drowned. HMS Stirling Castle was also lost in the same storm and was wrecked nearby.
The storm that sank the Northumberland was one of the fiercest storms of the 18th century and it sank many English vessels from the East coast of England to the coast of Holland. It was known as 'The Great Storm of 1703' and was a destructive extratropical cyclone that struck central and southern England on the 26th of November 1703. Ships were blown hundreds of miles off course and over 1,000 seamen died on the Goodwin Sands alone.
News bulletins of casualties and damage were sold all over England, which was a novelty at that time. One such article, published in 1710 in a book entitled, "God's wonders in the Great Deep, or, The Seaman's Danger and Deliverance Exemplified" includes an account of the ships lost upon the Goodwin Sands mentions the Northumberland in a chapter entitled:
"A Short but True Relation of what Ships were lost in the Great Terrible Storm, on the 27th and 28th of November, 1703, round about our English Coast."
"We'll begin with the Loss of Her Majesty's Ships in the Downs.
The Mary, a Fourth Rate, on Board of which Ship was Admiral Basil Beaumont, 64 guns, was lost, and all her Men save one, that was cast upon the Wreck of the Sterling Castle.
The Sterling Castle, a Third Rate, Captain Johnson Commander, lost on the Goodwin Sands; the Captain, Third Lieutenant, the Chaplain and the Cook were saved, with about 70 Men, about 3 a Clock on the Sunday in the Afternoon by Mr Marsham, who came off with some Deal Hookers, to their great Comfort and Relief.
The Northumberland and Restoration, were cast away upon the Goodwin Sands, Captain Greenway Commander of the Northumberland, a Ship of 70 Guns, and the Men 220, which were all lost. The Restoration, a Third Rate of 70 Guns, Captain Emes, Commander, all lost.”
The Mary, a Fourth Rate, on Board of which Ship was Admiral Basil Beaumont, 64 guns, was lost, and all her Men save one, that was cast upon the Wreck of the Sterling Castle.
The Sterling Castle, a Third Rate, Captain Johnson Commander, lost on the Goodwin Sands; the Captain, Third Lieutenant, the Chaplain and the Cook were saved, with about 70 Men, about 3 a Clock on the Sunday in the Afternoon by Mr Marsham, who came off with some Deal Hookers, to their great Comfort and Relief.
The Northumberland and Restoration, were cast away upon the Goodwin Sands, Captain Greenway Commander of the Northumberland, a Ship of 70 Guns, and the Men 220, which were all lost. The Restoration, a Third Rate of 70 Guns, Captain Emes, Commander, all lost.”
Northumberland Archaeology
The Northumberland shipwreck is an 'at risk' site. The archaeological work and preservation of the historical record is currently being undertaken by a collaborative team led by archaeologist Daniel Pascoe (Pascoe Archaeology) in partnership with MSDS Marine (acting as the diving contractor), Bournemouth University, Sea Dive Organisation and Historic England.
To date Daniel has preserved the archaeological record for a number of historically important British Naval shipwrecks.
His current work on the Northumberland is funded by Historic England and is now providing an important resource for educators and students alike, whilst also providing the public with an insight into one of England's most import wooden war ships.
To date Daniel has preserved the archaeological record for a number of historically important British Naval shipwrecks.
His current work on the Northumberland is funded by Historic England and is now providing an important resource for educators and students alike, whilst also providing the public with an insight into one of England's most import wooden war ships.
