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| Mary Evans Picture Library |
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Now lying in the Sound of Mull, the wreck of the Swan is one of the only surviving examples of the royal warships built by Charles I to combat piracy. Supposedly designed to be fast and agile, new evidence seems to challenge that view. The Wreck Detectives have teamed up with the wreck's archaeologist to try and resolve the contradictions.
Elaborate carvings found on the wreck would have added unnecessary weight to the ship, slowing it down. Excavation revealed enough of the timbers to determine the overall dimensions of the ship. Measurements proved it was indeed built to a slimmer more streamline design. The Swan was an early frigate. However the newly exposed frame timbers were much thicker and heavier than required. So while the Swan was designed to be a new faster ship, the conservative English shipbuilders couldn't resist weighing it down with heavy, sturdy timbers and prestigious carvings.
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Watch video – The divers examine the spread of the wreck's timbers |
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