Basic Site Facts
Period: post medieval (1678-1690)
Location: Pett Level, near Cliff End, Rye Bay, East Sussex
Depth: 0-2m
Wreck History and Loss
The 'Anne' was a third rate, 70-gun ship-of-the-line, built at Chatham Dockyard in 1678 on the instruction of Charles II and under the direction of Phineas Pett II. Anne was constructed alongside the 'Restoration', 'Stirling Castle' and 'Northumberland' as part of the late 17th century restoration of the English Navy, overseen by Samuel Pepys.
'Anne' was moored in the River Medway until 1687 when she was employed for a diplomatic mission to Portugal, returning via North Africa, Malta and Italy. In 1690 'Anne' was part of a combined Anglo-Dutch fleet defending England from a superior French force in the battle of Beachy Head. The ship was seriously damaged by the French and began to sink. She was run ashore and two days later she was deliberately burnt by her captain to prevent her becoming a prize. Subsequently she was extensively salvaged and her ordnance recovered.
Discovery and Investigation
The ship still lies where she was beached on the intertidal shore off Pett Level and is visible at low tide. Because she sank quickly up to 4m of the hull survives beneath the soft mud.
Attention was drawn to the wreck in 1974 when an attempt was made to loot the site with a mechanical excavator. Following a visit from Peter Marsden the site was given an emergency designation to prevent any further plunder. Subsequently Marsden and David Lyon conducted a preliminary archaeological survey which was published in the International Journal of Nautical Archaeology (IJNA). In 1983 the remains of the 'Anne' were purchased from the Ministry of Defence by the Nautical Museums Trust Ltd and the Warship Anne Trust was formed.
Archaeological survey was conducted on the site between 1983 and 1994 and a further detailed investigation was carried out between 1996 and 1997 including a small underwater excavation. Historical research has been undertaken by Peter Le Fevre and the structure has been studied by Richard Endsor.
Artefacts
Finds recovered from the 'Anne' in 1974 include shot, wooden barrel staves, clay pipes, spoons, a pewter plate and a coin of James II. Some of these objects are housed at the Shipwreck Heritage centre at Hastings along with the archive; a few other objects are in Hastings Museum.
Further Work
Archaeological survey has illustrated that the remains of the 'Anne' are deteriorating. The ships timbers are being eroded by marine borers, in addition to which waves breaking across the site at low tide are breaking up the remaining hull structure. The historical significance of the ship and her importance as the only surviving example of a particular development in warship design means it is crucial that the 'Anne' is not destroyed. The Warship Anne Trust is currently investigating ways to either recover or preserve the wreck.
