The Seaton Carew Wreck is a protected wrecksite lying in the intertidal zone at Seaton Carew^[1]. The Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 (1973 c33 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom which provides protection for designated wrecks. Seaton Carew is a small Seaside resort within the Borough of Hartlepool, in County Durham, England with a population of 6018 (2001 Prior to 1996 the wreck had been completely covered by the sand of the beach, but it was exposed in 1996 and 2002 and has been regularly exposed since 2004. Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " The wreck is of a type of vessel known as a collier brig which would have been ubiquitous in the 18th and 19th Centuries and is unusual on the North-East coast for the high degree of preservation.

The noticeboard explaining the protected wreck at Seaton Carew

Discovery

On the 4 August 1996, two local people, Derek Hodgson and Joe Howey reported discovering the remains of a wreck on Seaton Carew beach. Events 70 - The Destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem by the Romans. Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) Seaton Carew is a small Seaside resort within the Borough of Hartlepool, in County Durham, England with a population of 6018 (2001 The wreck had not been seen before, at least in their lifetimes, but a recent storm, some 3 or 4 days before had stripped sand from the beach and exposed the wreck. They contacted Tees Archaeology^[2], who began a rapid assessment of the wreck^[3] with the help of volunteers from the Nautical Archaeology Society. The Nautical Archaeology Society (NAS is a charity registered in England and is a Company limited by guarantee.

The wreck was lying in the inter-tidal zone about half way between the high and low water levels, giving about 6 hours for assessment between tides. It quickly became clear that what the sea had revealed, the sea was again going to conceal, as, with each tide, the sand was gradually returning to cover the wreck.

Description

The wreck lies with her bows towards the shore. It is approximately 25m long and 7m broad. The frames are oak and fastened with treenails. A treenail, trenail, or trunnel is a wood peg or Dowel used to fasten pieces of wood together especially in Timber frame construction and wooden It appears to be of a type of vessel known as a collier brig, a sturdy type of vessel favoured by Captain James Cook for his voyages of exploration. Captain James Cook FRS RN ( – 14 February 1779) was an English Explorer, Navigator and

It appears to have been subject to salvage as frames have been cut off to a consistent level, leaving the remains of the masts and lower third of the hull^[4]. Damage to the port side near the stern may have been made as part of the salvage operation to remove its cargo, possibly of coal. A photograph taken by a local priest, James Pattison in 1898 appears to show the same wreck with the hull salvaged but the stern post still intact. Year 1898 ( MDCCCXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common ^[5]

Designation

The importance of the wreck was recognised by the designation on 8 August 1997 under the Protection of Wrecks Act^[6]. Events 1220 - Sweden is defeated by Estonian tribes in the Battle of Lihula. Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar The Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 (1973 c33 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom which provides protection for designated wrecks.

The original interpretation panel erected near the site in August 2000^[7] was replaced by a new panel in 2005. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Reappearances

Tees Archaeology as the licencee has responsibility for monitoring the wrecksite. The wreck was substantially (though briefly) uncovered in 2002^[8] and again in 2004^[5]allowing further recording to be carried out. In 2004 and 2005 the wreck was partially exposed for most of the time, but in 2006 and 2007 it was rarely, if at all, exposed.

See also

• Archaeology of shipwrecks
• Maritime archaeology
• List of designations under the Protection of Wrecks Act
• HM Bark Endeavour

References

1. ^ Green, Gary (2004), "The Seaton Carew Wreck", in Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites Annual Report 2004 pp 12-13
2. ^ Tees Archaeology Description of finding the wreck
3. ^ Tees Archaeology Report of initial survey, 1996
4. ^ Advisory Committee on Historic Wrecks Report for 1998
5. ^ ^{a b} Northern Echo 28 September 2004
6. ^ Statutory instrument protecting the wreck
7. ^ Advisory Committee on Historic Wrecks Report for 1999-2000
8. ^ Northern Echo 19 December 2002