The wreckage of the HMS Gloucester was actually found in 2007 by two brothers, Julian and Lincoln Barnwell, along with their late father and two friends, after a four-year search that covered more than 5,000 nautical miles. The ship ran aground 28 miles from Great Yarmouth, but due to the time it took to verify its identity and the need to protect an “endangered” site in international waters, its discovery can only now be made public. . The shipwreck of HMS Gloucester off Yarmouth, May 6, 1682, by Monamy Swaine (c1750-c1800). Illustration: National Maritime Museum The HMS Gloucester was originally built in 1652 for the English Navy and took part in battles during the Anglo-Spanish War of 1654 to 1660 and the Second and Third Anglo-Dutch Wars. In 1682, the ship sank after colliding with a sand dune, killing up to 250 people. At that time, the ship was carrying James Stewart, who survived the wreckage and became King James II of England and Ireland and King James VII of Scotland. He had argued with the pilot for navigation in the dangerous area and was late to leave the ship until the last moment, costing the lives of many who, due to protocol, could not leave the ship before the rights. He did not accept any responsibility for the sinking, but instead blamed the pilot, James Ayers, and wished to be hanged immediately, although Iers was actually taken to a military court and imprisoned. The discovery of the wreckage due to its sinking conditions could be “the single most significant marine historical discovery since the emergence of Mary Rose in 1982,” according to Professor Claire Jowitt, who specializes in marine history at Eastern University. England. When it was discovered, the ship appeared to have been detached from its hull, with the remains of its hull submerged beneath the seabed. Many items, including clothes and shoes, have been recovered from the wreck, including, in 2012, the ship’s bell, which proved to be a key element in confirming that the wreckage was the HMS Gloucester. Lincoln Barnwell said the wreckage was in its fourth dive season in search of HMS Gloucester and that the team was beginning to think it could not find the ship. Brothers Julian and Lincoln Barnwell with a bell from the wreck of the HMS Gloucester, which they spotted off the coast of Norfolk. Photo: UEA / PA But Barnwell said that on a particular dive to the bottom, he spotted a “big cannon lying on white sand” that was “awe-inspiring and really beautiful.” He said: “I immediately felt privileged to be there, it was so exciting. “We were the only people in the world at the time who knew where the wreck was. That was special and I will never forget it. “ The Mary Rose was a warship serving the English Tudor navy under King Henry VIII, until it sank during a battle in 1545. After its discovery, it was restored and is now on display in Portsmouth. Jowitt said the discovery of the HMS Gloucester wreck “would fundamentally change the understanding of the social, maritime and political history of the 17th century”. He added: “It is an excellent example of an underwater cultural heritage of national and international importance. “A tragedy of significant loss of life, both privileged and ordinary, the full story of Gloucester’s last voyage and the impact of its aftermath need to be repeated, including its cultural and political significance and heritage. “We will also try to find out who else lost their lives and tell their stories, as the identities of some of the victims are currently known.” An exhibition is scheduled for spring 2023 at the Norwich Castle Museum and Gallery to display findings from the wreck and to share ongoing historical, scientific and archaeological research.