A MUSEUM has opened an exhibition about a shipwreck.

The London Exhibition is being held at Southend Museum, Victoria Avenue, Southend until July 20 next year.

The display shows finds from The London shipwreck, a 17th Century Cromwellian warship that mysteriously exploded in the Thames Estuary in 1665.

Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in the age of sail, learning about life on board, warfare and the events that led to the loss of more than 300 lives.

The exhibit includes a two-tonne cannon from a shipwreck that has been restored.

The ship featured in the famous diary of Samuel Pepys and had 76 guns onboard belonging to the Royal Navy.

Lesley Salter, councillor healthy communities and wellbeing, said: “The London was an important British naval ship, on a similar standing to the Mary Rose.

“Specialist divers have recovered a host of historic artefacts from the seabed.

“Remarkably the captain survived.

“Artefacts include the cannon which was plundered from a Dutch naval ship.

“This promises to be a popular and significant exhibition for our museum service and I encourage anyone with an interest in British history to come along.”