Boy Uncovers 275-Year-Old Shipwreck with Valuable History on Scottish Island Shore
In February 2024, a young schoolboy made a remarkable find on Sanday, one of the quaint Orkney Islands located in northern Scotland. He uncovered the remnants of a 275-year-old shipwreck after a storm had dragged the vessel’s hull onto the shore. Once the boy identified it, the island’s community quickly came together to safeguard it, allowing experts the opportunity to reconstruct its long-forgotten narrative.
Community volunteers and specialists from Wessex Archaeology were able to ascertain not only the construction date of the ship but also its precise identity. By examining the wood, researchers concluded it dated back to the mid-1700s and was from southern England, thus discounting any non-British ships. They further refined their search by eliminating wrecks that were too small or from incorrect areas, ultimately recognizing the vessel as the Earl of Chatham.
Naval records indicated that the Earl of Chatham was formerly known as the HMS Hind, a 24-gun Royal Navy ship that was constructed in 1749. The Hind operated off the coast of Jamaica during the 1750s and participated in the British sieges of Louisbourg and Quebec. Years later, it returned to action during the American Revolution in the 1770s, before serving as a training ship in the Irish Sea for a decade. The Hind was ultimately sold as a whaling vessel and sank on April 29, 1788, during a storm in the North Sea within the Arctic Circle, under its new name, The Earl of Chatham. Fortunately, all 56 crew members survived.
“The Hind was an incredibly fortunate and long-lasting ship,” remarked Ben Saunders, senior marine archaeologist at Wessex Archaeology, who oversaw the project in collaboration with Historic Environment Scotland (HES). The remains of the ship were notably lucky as well. The piece of hull—approximately 10 by 5 meters (33 by 16 feet)—had been astonishingly well preserved beneath the sand. The recovered timbers are currently housed in underwater storage at the Sanday Heritage Centre, while plans are underway for their permanent display.
Unraveling the ship’s narrative was challenging, but through the blend of material analysis and a wealth of archival information, everything was brought to light. “We’re really fortunate to possess so much archival material, thanks to the timeframe and the site of the wreck in Orkney,” stated Saunders. “It’s been immensely gratifying.”
In February 2024, a young schoolboy on Sanday in the Orkney Islands uncovered a 275-year-old shipwreck after a storm washed its hull onto the beach.
Researchers determined it was a whaling ship named the Earl of Chatham, formerly known as the HMS Hind.
The 24-gun Royal Navy ship hails from the mid-1700s.
The recovered timbers are currently stored underwater at the Sanday Heritage Centre, while future arrangements for their permanent home are in progress.
Discover more about the fascinating history of the ship.
Wessex Archaeology: [Website](https://www.wessexarch.co.uk/) | [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/wessexarch/?)
*My Modern Met granted permission to showcase photos by Wessex Archaeology.*
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