Discovery and Protection
Despite the existence of the historical records, the actual position of the wreck was unknown. In the 1970s a copper ingot was recovered by a shellfish diver, but the significance of this find was not understood until 1981, when a copper ingot was found on the beach. A team was sent to investigate and discovered that the location matched the contemporary accounts.
The seabed at this location consists of rocky gullies, exposed to the full force of Atlantic surf. There is no sediment to protect historic material and there are flint pebbles which help to smash and grind artefacts. Unsurpisingly therefore, the timbers of the ship have not survived, nor have any ferrous artefacts. The site was designated on 15 February 1982 under the Protection of Wrecks Act and local diver Tony Randall was made licensee. As conservation in situ was impossible, a license to conduct a rescue operation of any surviving artefacts was granted, and the surviving remains were recovered. Examples of copper and silver ingots were acquired and analysed by the British Museum There are public displays of recovered artefacts at Charlestown Heritage and Shipwreck Centre and at Pengersick Castle.
Following a report in May 2005 by English Heritage's archaeological diving contractor, that there was wreck material from the St Anthony lying outside the protected area, and evidence that this material was vulnerable to interference the site was redesignated on 21 September 2006 under an emergency designation order. The centre of the designation area was moved to the South East and the radius of increased from 75m to 150m.
After five years searching the gullies of Fishing Cove, material had been identified during the season of 2006 by Jason Roseveare. This proved that the designation order set back in 1983 did not cover the remains of the St Anthony 1527. Subsequently, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport issued the new designation to prevent further study without licence.
Read more about this topic: St Anthony (ship)
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