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Dartmouth,

Sound of Mull

March 2004

Designated Site Assessment: Full Report

Ref: 53111.03m

Dartmouth,

Sound of Mull

March 2004


Ref: 53111.03m

Dartmouth,

Sound of Mull

March 2004


Ref: 53111.03m

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ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES IN RELATION TO THE PROTECTION OF WRECKS ACT (1973)

DARTMOUTH, SOUND OF MULL

DESIGNATED SITE ASSESSMENT: FULL REPORT

Prepared by:

Wessex Archaeology Portway House Old Sarum Park

Salisbury WILTSHIRE

SP4 6EB

Prepared for:

Historic Scotland Longmore House Salisbury Place

Edinburgh EH9 1SH

March 2004

Ref: 53111.03m

©The Trust for Wessex Archaeology Limited 2004 The Trust for Wessex Archaeology Limited is a Registered Charity No.28778

Dartmouth Full Report Wessex Archaeology 53111.03m

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Ref: 53111.03m

Summary

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by English Heritage to undertake a Designated Site Assessment of the Dartmouth: a designated wreck site located within the Sound of Mull, Scotland. The work was undertaken as part of the contract for Archaeological Services in Relation to the Protection of Wrecks Act (1973). The Dartmouth was a Royal Navy 5th rate frigate which sank during a storm on 9th of October 1690, whilst on campaign to quell a Jacobite rebellion in western Scotland. The site was the subject of detailed excavations that were undertaken during the 1970s under the direction of Colin Martin. Diving operations took place between 7th and 11th November 2003 and were concentrated within two separate areas. The first area investigated was the wreck site itself. A search for several ‘missing’ large artefacts proved unproductive, though most of the remaining artefacts were recorded with video and digital stills photography. The reported find spot of a recently discovered Bellarmine vessel was also extensively investigated with no archaeological features being encountered. The existing visitor trail on the site was also assessed and although it does remain in parts, it is fragmentary. However, it is not thought likely to pose a threat to reasonably competent visiting divers. Due to time constraints, and its distance from the designated circle, the reported find spot of a lead scupper pipe was not investigated.


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Ref: 53111.03m

Acknowledgements

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Historic Scotland to undertake a Designated Site Assessment of the Dartmouth: a designated wreck site located off the island of Eilean Rubha an Ridire in the Sound of Mull, Scotland. Wessex Archaeology would like to acknowledge the assistance of Gordon Barclay and Deirdre Cameron of Historic Scotland and Ian Oxley and Annabel Lawrence of English Heritage. Wessex Archaeology would also like to thank the following people:

• Licensee Philip Robertson and his team of NAS students. The fieldwork was carried out by Graham Scott, Simon Adey-Davies, Jenny Black, Frank Mallon and Pete Pritchard. The report was compiled by Frank Mallon and edited by Steve Webster. Kitty Brandon prepared the illustrations and the project was managed for Wessex Archaeology by Steve Webster.

Data Licences The material derived from the UKHO is subject to licence 820/020220/11 and the conditions on End-Users and Third Parties contained therein. The following charts and wreck requests have been added to Schedule 1 Annex A:

• Digital use of Chart 2390 A copy of the report will be sent to UKHO.


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Ref: 53111.03m

Contents

1. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................... 1 2. OBJECTIVES ..................................................................................................... 1 3. EXISTING SITE DATA..................................................................................... 2 4. METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................. 2 5. RESULTS ............................................................................................................ 2 5.1. Site Position in 2003................................................................................... 2 5.2. Diving Conditions ...................................................................................... 3 5.3. Geology, Topography and Flora .............................................................. 3 5.4. Archaeological Features............................................................................ 3 6. CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................. 5 7. BIBLIOGRAPHY............................................................................................... 6 8. APPENDIX I: DIVE DETAILS ........................................................................ 7 9. APPENDIX II: ARCHAEOLOGICAL OBSERVATION LOG.................... 8 10. APPENDIX III: NOTE ON THE DARTMOUTH.......................................... 11 Figures Figure 1 Dartmouth site location Figure 2 Diver track and Observation points within Bellarmine Search Area Figure 3 Existing site plans of the main site and WA search areas Plates Plate 1 Obs. 1074 - Seabed in the Bellarmine Search Area Plate 2 Obs. 1061 - Kelp re-colonisation on cannon 20 Plate 3 Obs. 1124 - Galley tile Plate 4 Obs. 1059 - Anchor 4 and broken cannon SOMAP 6 Plate 5 Obs. 1088 - Detail of planking Plate 6 Obs. 1060 - Iron cannon SOMAP 5, taken from mid point of Anchor 4


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Ref: 53111.03m

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1.1. This document constitutes a Designated Site Assessment: Full Report for a programme of archaeological work undertaken as part of the contract for Archaeological Services in Relation to the Protection of Wrecks Act (1973). The document has been prepared by Wessex Archaeology (WA) for Historic Scotland (HS). It comprises an assessment of the Dartmouth: a designated wreck site located off the island of Eilean Rubha an Ridire in the Sound of Mull, Scotland (Figure 1).

1.1.2. The work was conducted following instruction from the Contracts Manager: Ian Oxley of EH, and consultation with Gordon Barclay of HS. The programme of works was devised following discussion between WA and the site licensee Philip Robertson. This programme was communicated to HS prior to the commencement of the survey.

1.1.3. The site was inspected in November 2003 over a period of five days. All diving took place off the vessel Loyal Mediator. The personnel that took part were WA archaeologists Graham Scott, Simon Adey-Davies, Jenny Black and Frank Mallon, Pete Pritchard of Pritchard Diving Services, boat skipper George Mair and crew Heather Irvine.

2. OBJECTIVES

2.1.1. The overall objectives for the assessment were to confirm the surviving extent of the site. Some of the features recorded the 1974 excavation plan were not noted during a Sound of Mull Archaeology Project (SOMAP) survey in 1994 (Figure 3).

2.1.2. This was further defined, specifying the following tasks:

• A general visual inspection of the site; • Selection and photographing of suitable monitoring points; • Diver searches in order to locate ‘missing’ cannons and anchors

formerly recorded during the 1970s excavations; • Diver searches for the source of a Bellarmine vessel and a lead scupper

found outside of the designated area; • Inspection of the diver trail within the designated area in order to

identify any apparent hazards.


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3. EXISTING SITE DATA

3.1.1. The statutory instrument position for the site is given as follows:

Lat. 56º 30.19' N

Long. 05º 41.95' W

OSGB 36 3.1.2. The statutory instrument number is 1992/1229. From the centre point the designated

area consists of a circle with a radius of 50 meters. The current licensee is Mr Philip Robertson and the nominated archaeologist is Dr Colin Martin.

3.1.3. Other information available prior to the assessment was as follows:

• The National Monument Record of Scotland entry for the site (NMRS Number NM74SW 8002);

• The UK Hydrographic Office records for the site (UKHO 2713); • Various excavations, site plans and reports provided by the license, the

site archaeologist and SOMAP.

4. METHODOLOGY

4.1.1. The survey methods used were diver survey [inspection], diver survey [artefact positioning], diver survey [photography] and diver survey [area search].

4.1.2. Details of the methodologies used during the 2003 PWA survey are detailed in a separate document (WA 2003b).

5. RESULTS

5.1. SITE POSITION IN 2003

Lat. 56º 30.275' N

Long. 05º 42.059' W

WGS 84 5.1.1. The above position is a centre point position for the Bellarmine search area. It was

obtained by tracked diver survey using the ROV-trak system.

Lat. 56º 30.181' N

Long. 05º 42.053' W

WGS 84 5.1.2. The above position is at Obs. 1087, the anchor on the main site. It was obtained by

tracked diver survey using the ROV-trak system. Unfortunately, due to the shallow nature of the main site and its’ close proximity to Eilean Rubha an Ridire it was not


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possible to drop the ROV-trak beacons and calibrate in this area. The positions and diver tracks from the Dartmouth site were taken when the beacon array was deployed on the Bellarmine search area and as such no readings were expected. The few that were obtained, as they were taken outside normal working parameters, cannot be considered reliable for artefact positioning and are to be used only as a general position for the site as a whole.

5.2. DIVING CONDITIONS

5.2.1. When moored inshore near the main wreck site diving conditions were generally very good. The island of Eilean Rubha an Ridire protected the diver from tidal action during the dives, and little or no current was recorded. The island also sheltered diving operations from the high winds and fairly rough swells which were encountered when steaming out to site. These favourable conditions allowed a total dive time of 214 minutes to be achieved within this area (see Appendix I for full dive details).

5.2.2. However, when moored over the reported find spot for the Bellarmine vessel, diving operations were less sheltered, and the tidal stream did become a factor. That being said, when the tide became unworkable operations were moved into the lee of the island and work would then resume over the main wreck site of the Dartmouth. A total dive time of 236 minutes was achieved in this area (see Appendix I for full dive details).

5.3. GEOLOGY, TOPOGRAPHY AND FLORA

Main site 5.3.1. The seabed in the main wreck site area consists of a mix of coarse sediment and

small pebbles and boulders. Despite having been cut back in previous seasons for the NAS visitor scheme there is an extensive colonisation of kelp (Laminaria Digitata) over the entire site, which obscures many of the large artefacts. Plate 1 shows an example of this re-colonisation in relation to the large artefacts. The wreck came to lie within a wedge shaped gully that starts at the base of a rock face that slopes down from the island, and continues off to the south west with a gradually sloping floor.

Search Area 5.3.2. The seabed in the Bellarmine search area consists of a loose fine silty sand covering

an aggregate of coarse sand and pebbles covered with extensive soft marine growth. This changes to large rocks and boulders, with areas of protruding bedrock cut by small gullies filled with a coarse sand and gravel, as the seabed slopes up to the small rock outcroppings that start 150 metres to the north and north west of Eilean Rubha an Ridire. An example of the seabed in this area can be seen in Plate 2.

5.4. ARCHAEOLOGICAL FEATURES

Main Site 5.4.1. A general visual survey of the large features of the known elements of the site (i.e.

the cannon spread and anchors) was undertaken. As to be expected at this time of the year the kelp cover was dying back, but there was still a large covering over the majority of the site, obscuring some of the larger artefacts and hindering diver searches. The majority of the site was inspected and most of the large artefacts listed


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in the 1994 site plan were visually inspected and recorded on video. However, one iron cannon (SOMAP 9) and the two concreted masses (SOMAP 8 and 36) were not located by WA divers during this visit. The reasons for their absence was not immediately apparent. The area in and around iron cannon SOMAP 22 was not inspected due to time constraints and the need to concentrate dive time on searches for the missing large artefacts.

5.4.2. A search was conducted for the two anchors and cannons recorded in the 1970s excavation plan, but not located by SOMAP in 1994 or during subsequent visits. Measured searches using iron cannon SOMAP 23 as a start point and moving out in an arc covering an area of approximately 100 square metres (Figure 3) failed to find these artefacts.

5.4.3. During these searches several small artefacts were observed and recorded. These consisted of one fragment of a galley tile (Plate 3) showing possible evidence of burning, and two fragments of galley brick, also with possible evidence of burning. These were found sitting on the seabed between 8 and 10 metres south and west of iron cannon SOMAP 23. Three fragments of glass were also found, all near or under the anchor. They were not considered to be of very modern appearance: neither a manufacturing side seam, makers mark or other evidence of mass production were seen. This, coupled with the thickness of the side walls and base with air bubbles throughout the fabric suggest pre 20th century date.

5.4.4. A close visual and video monitoring inspection was undertaken of the anchor (labelled as Artefact 4 on the SOMAP site plan) and the underlying remains of ship structure. The area of timber, which measured less than 1 x 1 metre, consisted of timber planking with fastenings (Plates 4 and 5). This small area of planking also shows evidence of shipworm colonisation (Teredo Navalis).

5.4.5. Next to Anchor 4 there was a small mound of stones that was mixed throughout with small areas of concretions, and was interpreted as a possible ballast mound. A group of iron cannons was recorded lying on top of this ballast material. Broken iron cannon (SOMAP 6) lay roughly parallel to, and almost touching the shaft of Anchor 4 (Plate 4). Iron cannon SOMAP 5 lies less than 0.5 metres from the cannon SOMAP 6, also roughly parallel with Anchor 4 (Plate 6).

5.4.6. The final task on the main site involved an inspection of the remains of the visitor trail. The impression gained from observations of the trail, which consists of a ground-line run between various artefacts, is that though fragmentary it is unlikely to cause a hazard for any reasonably competent visitor.

Bellarmine Search Area 5.4.7. Following the work on the Main Site, searches were conducted to the north, around

the reported find spot of a Bellarmine vessel. An area, measuring approximately 980m², around the reported position of the find was searched over the course of several dives. The searches were conducted by means of tracked diver survey with the route followed by the diver being determined by the diver in response to the seabed topography (Figure 3).

5.4.8. Nothing of archaeological significance was encountered during these searches. Fragmentary remains of modern iron cable were noted (Figure 3), possibly


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associated with the loss of a fishing dredge bucket observed in this area prior to the WA visit.

5.4.9. Time constraints did not allow for any searches in the area of the lead scupper find spot, but the reported position and the distance from the designated circle of the Dartmouth suggests that it may come from another vessel.

6. CONCLUSIONS

6.1.1. The Main Site was apparently largely stable. However, the visual inspection of the site did highlight one potential area of concern. The timber planking underneath Anchor 4 had little or no covering and the possibility of damage by swell during storms cannot be discounted. A similar protection programme currently in place on the nearby designated wreck site at Duart Point, namely covering exposed timbers with a layer of local sediment capped with sandbags would alleviate this potential problem.

6.1.2. The apparent absence of a number of the large artefacts (i.e. the cannons and anchors at the western end of the site) may be explained in one of two ways: they are either still there but covered in sediment, or they were removed during the period of de-designation. Further investigation is required to explain their absence and current location. However, the fact that all of the missing artefacts are at one end of the site may point to the fact that there has been some sediment accretion in that area. The site is shallow and can be buffeted by storm surge, which may explain the transport of sediment along the seabed, with the large artefacts acting as points of entrapment (thus leading to their becoming covered up). This assumption is countered by the licensees limited sediment level monitoring that indicates that the site is fairly stable.

6.1.3. The presence of artefacts of 19th/20th century date on the site (the glass fragments) indicates the presence of some degree of modern intrusion. These finds were discussed with the licensee who commented that the potential for this type of intrusion was high, especially when considering the fact that the island has been responsible for at least four known wrecks and was used for Victorian hunting / picnic parties. Also the constant use of the Sound as a principal means of transport, and the 18th and 19th century settlements along the shoreline between Inninmore and Innibeg, add to the potential sources of occasion losses

6.1.4. The fact that the searches in the reported area of the Bellarmine find spot failed to produce any archaeological features suggests that either the positional data received by WA was flawed or that this was a stray find. Another explanation may be that the find spot itself has been destroyed; the area is well know for scallop dredging and the remains modern dredging apparatus on the seabed are periodically noted (see Appendix III, Obs 1073).


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7. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Adams, J., 1974, The Dartmouth, a British frigate wrecked off Mull 1690, IJNA 3.2.

Archibald, E.H.H.,1968 The Wooden Fighting Ship in the Royal Navy, 897 – 1859, Blanford Press.

Diamond, P., 1994, HMS Dartmouth. Unpublished NAS Part II Report.

Martin, Colin, 1998, Scotland’s Historic Shipwrecks, London.

Martin, Colin, 1978, The Dartmouth, a British frigate wrecked off Mull, 1690, IJNA 7.1.

Martin, Colin, 1977, The Dartmouth, a British frigate wrecked off Mull, 1690, IJNA 6.3.

Martin, Colin, 1976, The Dartmouth, a British frigate wrecked off Mull 1690, IJNA 5.3.

Wessex Archaeology, 2003a, Archaeological Services in Relation to the Protection of Wrecks Act (1973) Undesignated Sites: Written Scheme of Investigation, Report ref: 53111.04a.

Wessex Archaeology, 2003b, Archaeological Services in Relation to the Protection of Wrecks Act (1973): Recording Methodologies, Report Ref: 53111.04a.


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8. APPENDIX I: DIVE DETAILS

Dive No. Date Diver Depth

(metres) Duration

(mins) Current Visibility (metres)

1 07/11/03 Jennifer Black 8.5 46 Slack 4 2 07/11/03 Simon Adey-Davies 11 25 Slack 0 - 3 3 08/11/03 Pete Pritchard 18.5 45 Slack 2 - 3 4 08/11/03 Graham Scott 15.5 60 Slight 4 5 09/11/03 Frank Mallon 15.5 3 Strong 5+ 6 09/11/03 Frank Mallon 8 57 Slack 6 7 10/11/03 Pete Pritchard 12.8 58 Slack 4 - 5 8 10/11/03 Graham Scott 12 70 Slack 3 - 4 9 10/11/03 Frank Mallon 28 13 Strong 4

10 11/11/03 Frank Mallon 21 49 Slack 5 11 11/11/03 Graham Scott 20 4 Slack 5 12 11/11/03 Jennifer Black 6 51 Slight 3 13 11/11/03 Simon Adey-Davis 8 34 Slack 3


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9. APPENDIX II: ARCHAEOLOGICAL OBSERVATION LOG

Main Site.

Obs. No. Easting Northing Obs Type Description Video Log

1059 N.B. N.B. Anchor and timber

Large anchor labelled as 4 on the SOMAP site plan of 1994. Underneath the northern most fluke a small area of exposed timber planking was exposed, measuring roughly 1m². These timbers have suffered a little from erosion from being uncovered and also show evidence of considerable shipworm colonisation.

00:01:26 00:02:25

1060 Cannon Photograph of iron cannon, SOMAP 5, taken from northern side of anchor. This cannon lies in an area of rocks and boulders, inter-spaced with various small iron concretions and lies less than 0.5m from broken iron cannon, SOMAP 6.

00:01:45 00:01:46

1061 Cannon Overhead and detail shot of iron cannon, SOMAP 21. 2 iron cannons, SOMAP 20 and 15.Both cannons are largely buried by sediment and are in the process of being re-colonised by kelp.

00:05:39 00:05:50

1062 Cannon Group of iron cannon, SOMAP 8, 10, 13, 16, and 18. 00:12:18 1063 Cannon Iron cannon, SOMAP 15 and 20. 1064 Cannon Iron cannon, SOMAP 21. 1065 Cannon Iron cannon, SOMAP 21. 1067 Cannon Made bottom on the anchor on main site and moved off to iron cannon, SOMAP 21.

1068 Cannon and search point

Moved off 8m west from iron cannon, SOMAP 21, and began search for the missing cannons, labelled 18 and 19 on the 1974 excavation plans.

1069 Search point Search now swings toward the cliff face. Bellarmine Search Area.


1071 172264 740891 Search point First search around the reported find-spot of a Bellarmine vessel. This observation point marks the centre of the planned search area.

1073 172304 740831 Modern cable Fragments of modern cable, possibly from the remains of a dredging bucket previously noted in the area. 00:34:25

1074 172338 740879 Search point Made bottom and started a circular search 4m on the tape in the area of the Bellarmine vessel find spot.

1075 172342 740879 Search point Circular search continues at 10m on the tape. 1076 172352 740882 Search point Circular search continues at 15m on the tape. 1078 172356 740887 Search point Circular search ends. Nothing of archaeological significance encountered.


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1079 172313 740872 Search point Centre point of second search area near the reported find spot of the Bellarmine vessel. 1080 172314 740873 Search point Circular search continues at 5m on the tape. 1081 172323 740871 Search point Circular search continues at 10m. 1082 172329 740882 Search point Circular search continues at 20m.

1083 172317 740891 Search point Circular search continues but the is tape shortened at this point to 17.5m due to upstanding reef area on the seabed.

1084 172305 740884 Search point End of the circular search. Main Site.


1087 172362 740689 Anchor Made bottom on anchor on main site. This dive (dive no. 102) was the only dive on the main site when ROV-trak was giving positions. Unfortunately, being so far from the array of beacons data recovered proved to be sufficiently inaccurate to give reliable readings.

1088 172360 740686 Anchor and timber

Start of photograph mosaic and detail shots of anchor and of timber area under anchor, SOMAP 4.

00:10:23 00:10:24 00:10:26

1089 172360 740690 Cannon Iron cannon, SOMAP 21 with tape running back to anchor. 1090 172351 740680 Search point 15m south and west along the tape from iron cannon SOMAP 21 and along the cliff face. 1091 172358 740688 Cannon Iron cannon, SOMAP 21 (cascabel). 1092 172358 740688 Cannon Iron cannon, SOMAP 21 (cascabel). 1093 172359 740689 Cannon Iron cannon, SOMAP 21 (muzzle), poor ROV-trak reading. 1094 172358 740687 Cannon Iron cannon, SOMAP 21 (muzzle) repeat ROV-trak reading.

1095 172360 740691 Cannon

Iron cannon, SOMAP 15 (cascabel). This cannon was largely buried in sediment and although it was less than 2m away from the muzzle end of cannon 21 it was difficult to see from this point. Mid way along the top of the barrel, almost level with the trunnions a small rust stain, oval in length, measuring 0.25m by 0.12m was noted by the diver and may indicate an area were a portion of concretion has been knocked off.

1096 172359 740689 Cannon Iron cannon, SOMAP 15 (cascabel), repeat ROV-trak measurement. 1097 172361 740691 Cannon Iron cannon, SOMAP 15 (muzzle). 1098 172361 740691 Cannon Iron cannon, SOMAP 15 (muzzle), repeat ROV-trak measurement. 1099 172363 740692 Cannon Iron cannon, SOMAP 20 (cascabel), 2-3m from cannon 15. 1100 172363 740692 Cannon Iron cannon, SOMAP 20 (cascabel), repeat ROV-trak measurement. 1101 172363 740691 Cannon Iron cannon, SOMAP 20 (muzzle). 1102 172363 740691 Cannon Iron cannon, SOMAP 20 (muzzle), repeat ROV-trak measurement. 1103 172367 740681 Timber Timber planking underneath anchor, SOMAP 4. ROV-trak gave a bad position at this point.


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Bellarmine Search Area. Obs. No. Easting Northing Obs Type Description Video Log

1106 172396 740857 Search point Possible debris field from the small island back in the search area for the Bellarmine find spot. An example stills shot was taken from the video record at this point. 00:20:01

1107 172397 740861 Search point Diver comes across beacon A from the ROV-trak array at this point. 00:24:57 00:26:39

1108 172399 740855 Search point An area of deep gullies between the rocky seabed. Main Site.


1115 Anchor Practice video mosaicing of anchor, SOMAP 4, from west to east then east to west. 1116 Anchor Video mosaicing of anchor SOMAP 4, from west to east then east to west. 1117 Timber Photograph mosaicing of timber area underneath anchor, SOMAP 4. 1118 Timber Close up of the timber area underneath anchor, SOMAP 4. 1119 Anchor Photograph mosaicing of anchor, SOMAP 4. 1120 Timber Close up of fastenings on the timber planking. 1121 Anchor Close up of fluke on anchor, SOMAP 4, north west side. 1123 Search point Circular search starting from iron cannon, SOMAP 23.

1124 Tile 8.8m from the search start point due west a fragment of galley tile measuring 0.1m by 0.06m and between 0.01m and 0.03m thick. This tile has an orange fabric with evidence of burning on one side of the fragment.

00:04:32 00:04:48

1125 Brick 7.6m south west of iron cannon, SOMAP 23, a red clay galley brick measuring 0.08m by 0.1m by 0.06 was encountered.

00:11:32 00:13:06

1126 Brick Another, smaller fragment of brick, similar to 1125 above, was found 9.6m south west from iron cannon, SOMAP 23. 00:14:50

1127 Glass 0.9m from the north-western fluke and 2.85m from the broken end of the shaft a base of a broken, clear glass bottle was discovered. It has a base measuring 0.067m and is upstanding 0.12m.

00:01:12 00:01:24

1128 Glass Neck of a bottle of similar characteristics to 1127 described above. 00:28:26 00:29:06

1129 Glass Fragment of glass, from the side wall of a bottle, again, similar to 1127 and 1128, found sitting on the seabed directly under the north-western fluke of the anchor.

N.B: Eastings and northings were not available for observations taken when ROV-trak was non-operational.


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10. APPENDIX III: NOTE ON THE DARTMOUTH

The Dartmouth was a fifth rate English naval frigate, built in 1655 at Portsmouth by John Tippets. She measured 80 feet along the keel, 25 feet breadth by beam and with a draft of 12 feet. The ship received a major overhaul in 1678, which this is the date on the ship’s bell recovered in 1973. The ship had a long and arduous career, serving as far afield as Puerto Rico (avoiding seizure by the Spanish in a three hour skirmish), and in the Mediterranean, and it is whilst serving in these warmer climes that the ship probably picked up her colony of shipworm. In 1688 she was reduced to the status of a fire ship and her armament and crew were reduced. However, in 1689 she was refitted as a fifth rate, highlighting the shortage of serviceable ships at the time. The Dartmouth took part in the War of the English Succession, engaging French forces in Bantry Bay off southern Ireland and supporting Williamite actions against the Jacobites to the north. She returned to the Downs later that year were she was given a new captain and ordered to take station on the west coast of Scotland in order to put down a Jacobite rebellion. During this period the Dartmouth took part in various actions, and was on her way to deal with the Macleans of Duart when she was caught at anchor while sheltering in Scallastle Bay from a violent storm. During the storm the anchor lines gave and she was driven across the Sound to strike the rocky islet of Eilean Rubha an Ridire. Of the 130 or so crew on board only six survived (Adams, 1974). The site lies within the Sound of Mull, in shallow waters close inshore to Eilean Rubha an Ridire. It was designated for the first time in 1974 after being discovered in 1973 by a group of divers from Bristol, who later became the Bristol Undersea Archaeology Group (BUAG). The site was then thoroughly investigated by BUAG with guidance from archaeologists and the Institute of Maritime Archaeology at the University of St Andrews. Following these excavations, the site was de-designated in 1979. However, it was reported that salvage had taken place after the site had been de-designated with the result that it was re-designated in 1992. The site is now carefully managed and protected by the licensee Mr Philip Robertson who has been running Nautical Archaeology Society (Scotland) courses and a licensed visitor scheme.

WessexArchaeology

Dartmouth site location

Dartmouth

(50m radius)

Designated Area

56 30.181 N 05 42.035 Wanchor (Obs. 1087)

Date: Revision Number:

Scale: Illustrator:

Path:

19/11/03 0

1:80,000 & (inset) 1:2000 KJB

W:\53111\Drawing Office\...\2003\...\lDartmouth location.dwg

Figure 1

This product has been derived, in part, from Crown Copyright Material with the permission of the UK Hydrographic Office and the

Controller of Her Majesty's Stationary Office (www.ukho.gov.uk) All rights reserved. (Wessex Archaeology Licence Number 820/020220/11)

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION

WARNING: The UK Hydrographic Ofice has not verified the information within this product and does not accept liability for the accuracy of

reproduction or any modifications made thereafter.Tracked diver position for

Chart 2390

1

2

Tracked diver position forcentre point of search area50 30.275 N 05 42.059 W

1

2

1 0 7 3 Mode rn cab le

WessexArchaeology

Diver tracks and observation points within the Bellarmine Search Area Figure 2

Date:

Scale:

Path:

15/12/03

1:1500

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Revision Number:

Illustrator:

0

KJBArchaeological Services in Relation to the Protection of Wecks Act (1973). No unauthorised reproduction.This material © Wessex Archaeology, assigned to the Crown for the purposes of the contract for

Dive 103

Dive 106

Dive 104

Dive 101

Approximate area

Dive 99

Dive obs

Designated Area

Island

seen by divers

50m0

Island

WessexArchaeology


Scale: Illustrator:

Path:

12/12/03 0

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W:\projects\53111\Drawing Office\Report Figures\...\2003_Dartmouth\Fig2-3.dwg

Exising site plans of the main site and WA search areas Figure 3

0 10m0 10m

Archaeological Services in Relation to the Protection of Wecks Act (1973). No unauthorised reproduction.

This material © C. Martin, P. Diamond and Wessex Archaeology, assigned to the Crown for the purposes of the contract for

1974 site plan (reproduced from C. Martin, IJNA 1974) 1994 site plan (reproduced from SOMAP 1994)

Not seenNot seen

Not seen

Not seen

Not seen

Exposed timber

WA Search Area WA Search Area

Exposed timber


Scale: Illustrator:

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Caption Figure ?

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KJB

015/12/03

This material Wessex Archaeology, assigned to the Crown for the purposes of the contract for Archaeological Services in Relation to the Protection of Wrecks Act (1973). No unauthorised reproduction.

N/AWessex

Archaeology

Plate 1: Obs. 1074 - Seabed in the Bellarmine Search Area

Plate 2: Obs. 1061 - Kelp re-colonisation on cannon 20


Scale: Illustrator:

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KJB

015/12/03


N/AWessex

Archaeology

Plate 3: Obs. 1124 - Galley tile

Plate 4: Obs. 1059 - Anchor 4 and broken cannon SOMAP 6


Scale: Illustrator:

Path:

Caption Figure ?


KJB

015/12/03


N/AWessex

Archaeology

Plate 5: Obs. 1088 - Detail of planking

Plate 6: Obs. 1060 - Iron cannon SOMAP 5, taken from mid point of Anchor 4

dartmouth, sound of mull - orapweb.rcahms.gov.ukorapweb.rcahms.gov.uk/wp/00/wp000725.pdf ·...

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