London shipwreck investigation back on track

 

12th July 2025

Thanks to a crowd-funding campaign and the generous support from two commercial sponsors the volunteer work to investigate the historic shipwreck of the London in the Thames is back on track.

Back in the spring the dive team discovered that their boat engine had been condemned and could not be fixed. Without funds to replace the engine it had seemed that all diving this year on the nationally protected shipwreck would have to stop.

Thankfully, due to the kindness of the public and the amazing support of Dive Master Insurance and DP World, the team have been able to purchase a brand-new engine from a local supplier and are now back on the water.

 

Image: The London Shipwreck Project divers with Helen Gray from DP World and Bob Archell from Dive Master Insurance

The London, a Cromwellian ship built for Parliament was identified in Samuel Pepys Diary and part of the fleet that brought Charles II back to England for the restoration of the monarchy in 1660. On the 7th March 1665 tragedy struck in the Thames Estuary, when the warship exploded with the loss of over 300 souls. Today, over 350 years later, the tragedy continues as the wreck site washes away with every passing ship and tide.

 

Image: The London, built for Cromwell's Parliament sank in 1665 after a huge gunpowder explosion

Despite her historical significance, the remains currently lying just off the shipping channel in the River Thames, are rapidly eroding the site, washing away many irreplaceable artefacts. The strong tides and turbulence from London’s present-day shipping are making it impossible for the heritage agencies to cope.

 

Image: The London Shipwreck Project is back in business.

For the last five years the London Shipwreck Project volunteer diving team has received no government funding to investigate the historic monument on behalf of the government, and with currently no support grants in place to cover the costs of saving our maritime heritage they would otherwise have to personally cover the cost from their own pockets. 

In 2019 on the anniversary of the ordering of the London, the 3rd of July, the Nautical Archaeology Society along with the London Shipwreck Trust (now dissolved) launched the “Save The London” Campaign, to raise funds to support the crucial recovery and conservation of many of the historical artefacts and remains from the protected wreck. Now thanks to the support of the public, Dive Master Insurance and DP World this important work can continue.

 

Image: Steve Ellis showing a Bob Archell and Helen Gray a candle recovered from the London.

Steve Ellis, Principal Licensee and London Shipwreck Project leader, said "Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, we now have the engine that will take our small dive team back to the wreck of the London. This 17th-century warship is a time capsule beneath the Thames Estuary, and every dive brings us closer to understanding the lives, struggles, and stories of people of that era, before this information is washed away and lost forever. The support doesn't just power our boat - it powers discovery, learning, and a deep connection to our shared past. We are profoundly grateful."

Mark Beattie Edwards, CEO of the Nautical Archaeology Society, said: “It was worrying that all dives on the wreck by the volunteer team were going to have to stop. The government budgets for working on and saving our maritime heritage is tiny, and with no one to visit the site we would not know what is happening in the Thames. Thanks to the kindness of Bob Archell and his team at Dive Master Insurance, the folks at DP World, as well as the amazing individual donors that helped raise the £13,000 we needed, at least we now have a chance.”

Robert Archell, from Dive Master Insurance, said “the enterprise of this small dive team working in extremely difficult conditions to do meaningful underwriter archaeology and to rescue precious artifacts from this time capsule of 17^th life in Britain, is nothing short of heroic. We tip our hats to the divers and their skills, their support team and the archaeologists that are working tirelessly with them to save a vital part of our nation’s maritime heritage.

The whole country should be behind this fearless team of people and especially the diving communities because if you think you have had a bad day’s diving when the visibility is dark and down to less than a metre, that is a good day’s diving on this wreck. Add to that some of the largest ships in the world passing by, sounding nearly overhead of the divers who feel the undertow as it washes past them only a few hundred meters away. This then becomes one of the most psychological challenging dives. So, the fact they can do meaningful survey and rescue of artifacts within the archaeological license remit in these conditions, is nothing short of phenomenal!

We at Dive Master Insurance are proud to be early sponsors of the Save The London Wreck project. We very much hope that other sponsors including our Government and Councils will participate in supporting this pioneering work to Save The London Wreck, a priceless part of our national heritage.”

Ernst Schulze, DP World Ports & Terminals Lead for Northern Europe, said: “The Nautical Archaeology Society plays an important role in preserving the UK’s maritime heritage at historically significant sites like 'The London' shipwreck.  At DP World, we strive to deliver a lasting and positive legacy across the regions where we operate by investing in and supporting our local communities. We are delighted to make this contribution to help fund a new engine for their dive boat, and we look forward to learning about their important work and new discoveries.”

You can still support the efforts of the volunteer divers investigating the London through the Save the London Campaign here