HMS Gloucester  

Reepham Rotary Club is hosted a talk about HMS Gloucester by Professor Claire Jowitt and Julian Barnwell  

HMS Gloucester, which sank off the Norfolk Coast in 1682 has been described as Norfolk’s Mary Rose. The talk covered the history of the ship and its passengers, the story of the years of diving to find the ship and recover many fascinating artefacts.  

James Duke of York and Albany, brother of King Charles II, was returning to Scotland on the Gloucester with more than 300 passengers and crew on board. The ship ran aground on a sand bank off the coast of Great Yarmouth. James survived but more than 150 died as the ship sank in less than an hour.

Professor Jowitt of UEA is co-curator of the exhibition which has been running at Norwich Castle Museum.  She will explain the historical background to the voyage and the items found. Julian Barnwell, with his brother Lincoln, has been exploring the sea bed since they discovered the wreck in 2007. He will tell the story of the dive and update us on discoveries from this year’s diving. 

More information will be found at  www.gloucester1682trust.org or gloucestershipwreck.co.uk

The evening raised funds for the trust to preserve the remains of the ship and Rotary charities.