Before you apply for a licence to recover artefacts from a protected wreck site, please make sure you have read and understood the guidance on 'Accessing England's Protected Wreck Sites'.
If you need help with this application, please contact the Maritime Archaeology Team at English Heritage on 02392 856735, or email maritime@english-heritage.org.uk.
Please include a valid email address. You will receive confirmation of receipt of your application via email. The confirmation will include a copy of your submitted application details.
Let us know immediately, if any of the details are inaccurate or need to be amended. If we do not hear from you within five business days after sending you the confirmation of receipt, we will assume that your details are accurate and you agree to the Terms and Conditions (see Appendix I) of this application.
Your application, with English Heritage's recommendation, will be considered by the Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites (ACHWS), who will then recommend to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether or not a licence should be granted. The Advisory Committee may also recommend that certain conditions are attached. You will be informed of the Secretary of State's decision within ten business days after the next ACHWS meeting.
Please note that the ACHWS meets three times a year, normally in March, July and December. Therefore your application can only be considered and, if approved, be issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) after one of the above mentioned meetings has taken place. The exact dates for the next ACHWS meeting can be found on our website, or alternatively email maritime@english-heritage.org.uk.
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Printable version: Surface Recovery Licence Application ( 110 Kb)
Appendix 1: Terms and Conditions ( 56 Kb)
(It is not appropriate to include 'Named Divers' on your application as referees.)
(If the space provided is insufficient attach an additional sheet to the application.)
Please consult "Protected Historic Wreck Sites" Guidance Notes for Divers and Archaeologists (2007) on the role of Nominated Archaeologist. The publication is available as a PDF download from the English Heritage Maritime Archaeology website www.english-heritage.org.uk/maritimesubsection 'Publications'.
A copy of the site excavation records should be deposited with the National Monuments Records Centre, Kemble Drive, Swindonas soon as possible after the completion of the monitoring work.
