A 17TH century warship sunk in the Thames Estuary close to Southend Pier should be raised back to the surface so it can be restored and displayed, a Southend MP has insisted.
The London 1665 played a significant role in British history and the ship formed part of the convoy sent in 1660 to collect Charles II from the Netherlands and restore him to the throne.
However, it sank in March 1665, following a gun powder explosion and more than 300 crew on board died.
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The shipwreck sits just off Southend’s pier, however fears are growing that it is eroding at a rapid rate due to the increasing number of shipping vessels causing stronger currents.
Anna Firth, MP for Southend West, has been campaigned alongside groups such as the London Shipwreck Project and Save The London to ensure this “incredible cultural asset is kept intact and protected”.
She has called for plans to be drawn up to attempt to raise it out of the water so restoration works can take place in a bid to make it a “key tourist site” in Southend.
She said: “I am so proud of the incredible underwater heritage we have here in Southend, and I want to do everything I can to preserve and share this with the rest of the country.
“The London 1665 is an internationally-significant shipwreck, and it is time that it was preserved for future generations. The ship was part of the fleet that brought Charles II back to reclaim his throne, and as we prepare for the Coronation of our own King Charles, I can think of no better monument worth celebrating.
“Working alongside the brilliant groups the London Shipwreck Project and Save The
London, I am continuing my campaign for the London 1665 wreck to gain the recognition it deserves, and hopefully be raised out of the water to become a key tourist site in Southend.
“Last week, I also met with the Minister for Tourism, Julia Lopez MP, to discuss how it could become a real part of our economic regeneration in Southend.”
Last year, a number of fascinating artefacts from the shipwreck were put on display in Southend’s Central Museum, in Victoria Avenue. The wreck was partially excavated between 2014 to 2016, with finds - including leather shoes, glass bottles, and an incredibly rare and extremely well-preserved 355-year-old wooden gun carriage - raised from the seabed.
The London is on Historic England’s Heritage At Risk Register, due to its ongoing erosion.
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