On 6 May 1682, HMS Gloucester sank off the coast of Great Yarmouth. The warship’s loss was a major disaster, claiming the lives of an estimated 130-250 people – very nearly including the Duke of York and Albany (the future King James II & VII), who was on board. The Gloucester itself was lost to the sea, and its wreck remained anonymously buried in sand for almost 350 years.

Since the ship’s rediscovery in 2007 (by brothers Lincoln and Julian Barnwell, and James Little), though, archaeological surveys of the site and analysis of artefacts eroding from the wreck mound are helping to tell the story of the Gloucester once more: a story that is currently the focus of an exhibition running at Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery.

On this episode of The PastCast, one of the co-curators of the exhibition, Professor Claire Jowitt, discusses the history of the ship, its sinking, and the many fascinating artefacts – from glass wine bottles (then cutting-edge technology) to trunks stuffed with passengers’ possessions – that are helping to illuminate its final, fatal voyage.

The Gloucester exhibition is also the subject of an article in the latest issue of Current Archaeology magazine, which is out now in the UK, and is also available to read in full on The Past website. On this episode, Claire spoke with Current Archaeology editor Carly Hilts and regular PastCast presenter Calum Henderson.

The Past brings together the most exciting stories and the very best writing from the realms of history, archaeology, heritage, and the ancient world. You can subscribe to The Past today for just £7.99. If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider liking it, subscribing, and sharing it around.

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The Last Voyage of the Gloucester: Norfolk’s Royal Shipwreck, 1682 runs at Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery until 10 September; see their website for more details.

The exhibition catalogue, by curators Ruth Battersby Tooke, Claire Jowitt, Benjamin Redding, and Francesca Vanke, The Last Voyage of the Gloucester: Norfolk’s Royal Shipwreck, 1682 (Aylsham: Barnwell Print, 2023) provides information about the history of the Gloucester, the finders’ story, and the artefacts displayed.

For an account of the Gloucester’s final voyage see Claire Jowitt, 'The Last Voyage of the Gloucester (1682): The Politics of a Royal Shipwreck' The English Historical Review, Volume 137, Issue 586, June 2022, Pages 728–762, available here.

And to read more about ongoing research into the wreck itself, visit this link.

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