Maritime record MWX5056 - Fleet Cannon Site

Two distinct areas of wreck discovered in 2010 on the seaward side of Chesil Beach. Eight heavily concreted cast iron cannon lie just off the toe of the beach and have been identified as English 24-32 pounders cast between 1650 and 1725. About 220m south of these are seven very heavily concreted cast iron English cannon, one of which is probably a six pounder, cast in the second half of the seventeenth century.

Found during a survey for RDF media programme 'Wreck Detectives'. Six cannons in a group. Probably not part of the Chesil Cannon site which is close. (1) Position surveyed as 50 36.68N 2 32.063W


Remains of an unidentifed wreck, located on the seaward side of Chesil Beach, Dorset. The site is comprised of eight heavily concreted cast iron cannon identified as English 24-32 pounders, cast between 1650 and 1725. This wreck site, along with another site located approximately 220m to the south (see 1615533), collectively known as the 'Chesil Beach Cannon Site' is designated under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973.
Status: Site

Designatated under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973.
Designation Order: No.773, 2017
Made: 18 July 2017
Laid before Parliament: 19 July 2017
Coming into force: 18 August 2017
Protected area: Within 30m of wreck in 50.61271520N, -2.53450365 <2>

The site is located very close inshore, on a gravel and cobble seabed just offshore of the toe of the beach slope. This is a very high energy environment and the beach and seabed is subject to modification by very large storm waves. The site is a wreck and comprises eight heavily concreted cast iron cannons, at least three of which have been tentatively identified with the assistance of independent ordnance expert Charles Trollope as English 24-32 pounders cast between the third quarter of the 17th century and the first quarter of the 18th century. In addition there is a scatter of cannon fragments, iron shot, at least one of which is for a 32 pounder, and other concretions, including several large conglomerates that include iron shot. There are also a number of small fragments of worn worked wood. Some of the cannons are mostly buried and it is possible that there is other buried wreck material, particularly immediately inshore. No evidence of ship structure has been found and the wreck remains unidentified. The most likely explanation is that the guns are outbound cargo, being carried on a merchant ship which was driven onto the beach and wrecked during the date range given for the guns. <3>

<1> Le Pard, G, 1995-2003, Dorset Coast Forum Maritime Archaeological Database, 1591 (Digital archive). SWX8707.

<2> Wessex Archaeology, 2016, Unknown ('Cannon Site') Weymouth. Undesignated Site Assessment Report 108280.13 (Unpublished document). SDO20589.

<3> Statutory Instrument: No. 685 The Protection of Wrecks (Designation) (England) Order 2016, 2017, No. 773 (Scheduling record). SDO20557.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1615529 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Mar 19 2024 4:56PM