200-year-old Shipwreck Carrying Over 60 Chests Of Silver Bullion Granted Special Protection

Sailing Ship — Image for representation purposes only

The wreck of the Earl of Abergavenny, a ship that sank off Weymouth, Dorset, over 200 years ago, has been granted special protection by the UK government.

The protection was granted on the recommendation of Historic England, a non-departmental public body of the UK government aimed at protecting England’s historical environment.

The wreck site is now protected from further damage, although divers can still explore it without touching the remains.

The Earl of Abergavenny, part of the East India Company’s fleet, sank during a storm in February 1805, killing around 250 people.

The ship, en route from Portsmouth to Bengal and China, collided with a sandbank and sunk about a mile off the coast of Weymouth.

Among the dead was the ship’s captain, John Wordsworth, brother of the renowned English romantic poet William Wordsworth.

The Earl of Abergavenny, built in 1796, was one of the largest ships of its time, weighing 1,300 tonnes.

The ship was carrying 62 chests of silver bullion, estimated to be worth £70,000 at the time-approximately £7.5 million today.

The treasure has never been recovered from the wreck and is still lost at sea.

Historic England’s Chief Executive, Duncan Wilson, emphasized the wreck’s historical significance, stating that the wreck has an evocative story to tell about the life and grief of one of our most renowned poets, William Wordsworth.

Wilson added that while the wreck had not been fully examined, the special protection allowed divers to explore the site while preserving its remains.

David Carter of the Portland Museum played a crucial role in the wreck’s discovery and praised the site’s preservation.

The museum displays several artefacts from the shipwreck, such as frames, fixtures and planking.

On its final journey, John Wordsworth, the ship’s captain, had already made two successful voyages to China aboard the Earl. His maritime career was partially motivated by a desire to assist his brother’s writing career.

After John’s death, William Wordsworth’s poetry became noticeably bleaker, with references to his brother appearing in works such as Elegiac Stanzas, Stepping Westward and The Character of the Happy Warrior.

The East India Company, owing the Earl of Abergavenny, played a major role in global trade and colonization in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Since there is no evidence that the ship was involved in the slave trade, the company’s overall history includes the exploitation of people and places.

According to Historic England, the shipwreck, located approximately 16 meters below sea level, has been preserved as a historical site with substantial historical remains of the hull.

The special protection allows for exploration of the wreck but mandates that all artefacts remain untouched.

Chloe Taylor, a museum coordinator at Portland Museum, emphasized the hazardous condition of the seas surrounding the Isle of Portland and the numerous shipwrecks that have occurred there.

The special status aims to honour the memories of those who lost their lives while also preserving an important part of maritime history linked to one of Britain’s most famous poets.

Reference: BBC, The Guardian

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