Promoting awareness of the archaeology and history of north Devon
Promoting awareness of the archaeology and history of north Devon
As a follow-on to the fish weirs survey (and to combat the withdrawal symptoms caused by missing keen estuary winds and wet feet) it was felt a survey of hulks would be timely. Hulks are sailing vessels which have either been wrecked or more often (in an estuary) abandoned or deliberately beached out of the main shipping channel.
Why is a survey of hulks desirable?
Firstly, this is a natural corollary of the weir survey, adding to our
information on the archaeology of the estuary. Ships and shipbuilding
have been a major element in the story of theTaw/Torridge estuaries.
Secondly, comparison of photographs taken over the last fifty years demonstrates
that some of the hulks have markedly deteriorated and that much evidence
is disappearing. What remains therefore needs recording.
A similar survey on the Medway led to the production of the RCHM (Royal
Commission on Historical Monuments of England) handbook 'Nautical Archaeology
on the Foreshore'. The methods and record sheets in this standard text
have been used elsewhere (i.e. the River Itchen; a survey by Southampton
MA students of Maritime Archaeology under the auspices of the Hants and
Wight Trust) and will be used on theTaw/Torridge.Thirdly, such a survey
will provide NDAS members with hands-on experience of survey and planning
of structures as well as an increasing knowledge of ship construction
and its associated vocabulary.
Familiarity with using the RCHM vessel records will also be a useful additional
skill for NDAS members.
Barry Hughes of Appledore Museum already has some records of the hulks and is enthusiastic regarding the need for a detailed survey. We hope to have him 'on board' and suggest the museum would be a suitable home for the archive. Again, some sort of publication in the Proceedings would be an appropriate end product.
Survey (volunteer numbers allowing) will begin this summer. Low tides are not as critical as with the weir survey and the window of opportunity for hulk survey will be greater. Some of the hulks we hope to survey include a number of well-known schooners including the Annie Christian (built in Barnstaple, 1881; now beached near Appledore shipyard) and the MA James, one of three hulks beached below Northam.
Could those members interested please contact me (Chris Preece: 01237 475368) so I can notify them as necessary? Survey may have to be at relatively short notice (say 2 weeks) due to my flexible work commitments.