Find Spot record MDO8616 - Ship's timber found at Durley Chine, Bournemouth

A substantial worked timber was washed up at Durley Chine after stormy weather in December 1993. The curved timber was c. 2.3m long and 0.13m square in section. It was pierced both vertically and horizontally for treenails, several of which remained in situ. It is probably a framing element for a sea-going vessel of carvel construction and as such is sixteenth century or later. (1)

The timber is a frame timber, probably from amidships of a large sea-going vessel of carvel construction. The presence of horizontal treenail holes may indicate that this frame was attached to another frame to give additional strength - perhaps in the area of the mast step. Dating of this construction method is 1500 - modern. Other smaller pieces of timber have been washed up on the beach, indicating a potential wreck site somewhere in Poole bay. A number of treenails were attached to the timber going into the wood horizontally as well as vertically. There is no evidence of metal fastenings. (2)

Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1994, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1993, 160-161 (Serial). SDO93.

<1> DCC SMR, to 2003, Former DCC SMR Card Index, 7 000 166 (Index). SWX8285.

<2> Le Pard, G, 1995-2003, Dorset Coast Forum Maritime Archaeological Database, Single Find 10 (Digital archive). SWX8707.

Record last edited

Jul 12 2024 3:18PM