Basic Site Facts
Location: Thames Estuary
Date of Designation: 23 October 2008
Year Of Sinking (if known): 1665
Summary History and Loss
'The London' was a second rate 'Large Ship' built in Chatham in 1654 during the Interregnum. She is known to have participated in the First Dutch War (1652-4) and later formed part of an English Squadron sent to collect Charles II from the Netherlands and restore him to his throne in an effort to end the anarchy which followed the death of Cromwell in 1658. 'The London' blew-up on passage from Chatham in March 1665.
Discovery and Investigation
Two adjacent wreck sites (known respectively as the 'London' and 'King') have been subject to staged archaeological assessment as part of ongoing mitigation for the London Gateway project, River Thames. In 2007, a diving assessment of both sites was commissioned by the Port of London Authority (PLA). PLA's archaeological contractor concluded that the 'King' site may be part of the London as the sites lie only 400m apart and have produced artefactual evidence of similar date. In addition, the identification of the 'King' does not correspond to any recorded loss.
Future Research
Further work is planned for 2010 in order to resolve the outstanding issues with this site and to advance the recording of the wreck.
