Norman's Bay
Wreck Site
Up-dated 06/02/2012

HMS Resolution
It is possible that the wreck could be the remains of HMS Resolution which was the flagship of the navy during the later years of the 17th Century but which sank in the Great Storm of 1703.

Battle of Beachy Head

Alternatively, the wreck could be one of the several warships recorded as lost during the Battle of Beachy Head in 30 June 1690. The Anglo-Dutch Fleet lost seven Dutch ships, while the English lost only a third rate, the Anne, run aground near Hastings and burned by her captain to keep her from being taken by the French.

The Battle was fought during the War of the League of Augsburg (1688–1697) by an Anglo-Dutch fleet against a stronger French fleet. Arthur Herbert, Earl of Torrington, commanded the allied fleet of 36 English ships and 22 Dutch ships, the latter under Admiral Cornelis Evertsen. Admiral Anne-Hilarion de Cotentin, Comte de Tourville, commanded the French fleet of 68 ships, which were formed from the Brest and Toulon fleets. Torrington was missing both Admiral of the Blue Edward Russell and Admiral of the Blue designate Sir Henry Killegrew, who was returning from the Mediterranean. Also absent was Rear Admiral of the Blue designate Sir Cloudesley Shovell with 25 ships, who was late returning from escorting King William III to Ireland.

The wreck site is located to the East of Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne in a depth of 10m Low Water Slack or 15m High Water Slack. The Site is best dived on the High Water Slack as this provides the longest slack and best visibility.

To reach the wreck divers are required to descend down the chain attached to the Yellow Wreck Protection Buoy. On reaching the seabed follow the chain and you will find the train wheel clump weight. At the train wheel you will find a 12mm ground line pointing the direction of the wreck on a bearing of 105° to Station 1.

Stations are marked with a bright yellow sinker
with a numbered float. On top of each station you will find a grey arrow which should point in the direction of the wreck.

At certain times of the year all the diver stations may be joined by ground lines. It is very important that you do not pull yourself along these lines as this risks moving the diver stations as well as breaking the lines.

Station 1
Now that you have reached the wreck site you will find yourself looking
at a large 2.5m cast iron gun (No.1042). Directly to the north lies a 3m
gun (No.1044). These guns are typical of a 3rd rate warship from the
17th or18th century. East of gun No.1042 you will find the only surviving
anchor (Object No.1015). It is almost 3m across. Given the position it
may be the spare bower anchor stored in the middle of the ship below
deck.

Station 2

Marine life is thriving in these areas and you should be able to see creatures
such as anemones, common starfish, mussels and edible crabs.
At Station 2 you are in front of the remains of 9 cast iron guns ranging
between 2.5 - 3m in length. Given their position it is hard to pin-point
their original ship locations, however their size indicates they may have
been stationed on the main gun deck.

Station 3

Three of the guns (No's 1037,1038,1039) are protruding out of the seabed at about a 40° angle. Given their location, at the presumed bow of the wreck site, it is possible these guns formed part of the ship's forward defences. At Station 3 you may find a line heading north which leads to a single gun (No.1019) - see next illustration for more information.

As you swim from Station 3 to 4 you are travelling along the more sheltered
eastern side of the site. The reduced dynamics means that the seabed
is more silty here. Station 4 lies next to a single gun (No.1035)
which has a large fin along the top; this is probably due to corrosion.
SW of Station 4 you can find a small cluster of galley bricks. Being three
courses thick, these bricks would have protected the hull from the heat
and fire of the galley or “cookroom”.

Station 5

At Station 5 if you look carefully you will see the remains of the wooden hull structure eroding out of the seabed.
Up to 20 frames and 7 planks may be visible. These are the best preserved
timbers on the site. Some have been removed to be dated
which will hopefully help identify the vessel. Behind the timbers are
two guns (No.1013 and 1014) resting on each other to form an arch.

Station 6

As you swim from Station 5 to 6 you will see a large number of guns
(No’s 1011, 1010, 1008 and 1009) which all sit on top of the substantial
ballast mound. Make sure you take a look in the muzzles (where the
cannon ball was expelled) of each gun to see if a crab, a shrimp or
even a tompot blenny (Parablennius gattorugine) has made a home.

Station 7

As you swam from Station 6 to Station 7 you travelled up and
over the ship’s ballast and the southern cluster of guns on the
wreck. A large number of smaller artefacts have been found by archaeologists including small iron concretions, an iron ingot, felt and masonry. Station 7 is next to the southern-most gun (No.1001) which appears to have chain concreted to it.

Feel free to explore further south but so far no
more evidence of the wreck has been found.

Station 8

This is the area of the wreck that we know least about.
Looking around Station 8 on the site plan, there would appear to be not much of interest, but take a closer look and see what you can find. In 2011, NAS divers reported seeing exposed hull timbers eroding out of the seabed. There also appears to be a considerable number of concreted iron objects. Here the seabed changes in nature becoming more compact with stone and broken shell and it is hoped that small pottery fragments might be found here that will help identify the nationality of the ship.