Past Talks
The Mary Rose
Date: 24th April 2006
Speaker: Steve Griffiths
A joint meeting with Launton Historical Society. The meeting took place at Launton Playing Fields Hall. A good attendance of nearly seventy members of both Societies attended the talk.
Steve Griffiths was introduced. He was a diver and archaeologist who had worked on the Mary Rose site for many years. He outlined the contents of his talk and displayed a number of the artefacts and resources that he had brought with him.
Steve introduced his topic by discussing the diving equipment he used. The whole kit weighed 70lbs approximately and cost in excess of £1500. The cost of the excavation was much more than if it had been a land based study. Archaeology underwater in a British coastal site suffers from distorted views and disappearance of colours. There was an initial survey of the site following research from more traditional sources. Materials needed considerable conservation once they had been recovered. Over 19000 items have been raised from the site of which 4000 have been conserved. Much work involved putting the finds in to context.
The Mary Rose was built between 1509 and 1511. She was modified in 1536 and 1545. She weighed 700 tonnes. She had been located in 1800 although present research started in 1965. The first gun was raised in 1970. The vessel was 32 metres long and 13 metres high. She was manned by 200 plus sailors and 185 soldiers. Her armament consisted of 15 bronze cannon and 25 iron cannon. Details of the vessel are available on www.maryrose.org
The archaeological evidence shows differences from contemporary pictures of the vessel. The wreck has had recent excavation on it as the Navy have to dredge new approach channels to Portsmouth to enable large warships to enter the harbour.
New Museum facilities are planned to display the numerous finds including cannon, surgeon’s equipment, and carpenter’s tools, personal and domestic items.
The Meeting closed at 8:55 pm.