Plank with a major split which shows signs of temporary repairThe ship itself has not been identified as yet, but contemporary accounts of wrecks in the Thames Estuary reveal that is was a dangerous stretch of water.

Shifting sandbanks and swift currents were a large part of the problem. There were no sailing charts as we would use today, and a great reliance on local pilots or the crew’s own knowledge. There was no port authority controlling shipping movements and providing up to date information on safe navigation as the Port of London Authority does now. It is possible that this ship stranded on one of the estuary sandbanks, was damaged and foundered.

The wooden planking of the wreck shows that the vessel has undergone small repairs during its life. We only have parts of the ships hull from which to draw any conclusions. WA only very recently finished gathering information about repairs and possible hull weaknesses, and so analysis is far from complete.