The remarkable discovery of part of a shipwreck, believed to be from the 17th Century, has been found buried in the sand at Studland Bay in Dorset, following winter storms.
Since the ship’s timbers came to light on Wednesday 28th January 2026, uncovered by Storm Chandra, the National Trust and archaeologists from Bournemouth University have been examining them at low tide.
A surprising and historic find in Studland
Believed part of the Swash Channel wreck
Early results from the university strongly suggest they date from the 17th Century and are believed to be a missing section of the Swash Channel wreck, discovered nearby in the 1990s.
The ship itself is thought to be the Fame from Hoorn, a Dutch merchant ship which ran aground near Studland in 1631 after she was dragged onto a sandbank. All 45 crew abandoned ship safely, but the Fame was quickly looted by Studland residents who watched the wreck happen.
Carbon dating is now being carried out of small pieces of wood from the remains on Studland beach to see if they match the timbers from the Swash Channel wreck, and Bournemouth University has already applied to Historic England for permission to excavate it.
It is hoped the timbers revealed at Studland will eventually join a collection of artefacts from the Swash Channel wreck on display at Poole Museum, which include the ship’s figurehead, a grindstone for sharpening swords on, pewter tankards and spoons, a bronze handbell and kitchen utensils.
Permission to excavate the timbers is being sought from Historic England
Visitors asked to help protect the site
In the meantime, visitors to Studland beach are being asked to help protect the site by not touching or damaging the exposed timbers which are only visible at low tide.
Some of the timbers have been protected with sandbags, as advised by maritime archaeologists, and it is believed that the site will naturally rebury itself under sand in the near future.
Bournemouth University has the precise coordinates of the find and will work as quickly as possible with Historic England to arrange a fully controlled excavation.
The exposed section of ship measures approximately six metres long and two metres wide, and consists of at least 15 frames connected with wooden treenails to five outer hull planks. While the frames are eroded, the hull planks are said to be in excellent condition.
There would originally have been another layer of planking on the inside of the vessel, but this appears to have been lost, suggesting the remains have been buried in sand since the 1630s and intermittently exposed over the centuries.
Tom Cousins from Bournemouth University and Pam White from the National Trust examine the wreck
“This has been a real treasure”
Tom Cousins, maritime archaeologist at Bournemouth University, said:
“It’s really exciting to find this piece of historical ship. During our excavation of the Swash Channel wreck in 2013, there were pieces of the ship missing and we do believe a section of the hull has now been revealed at Studland.”
Tracey Churcher, general manager for National Trust Purbeck, added:
“I’m always astounded by the history we find at Studland but this has been a real treasure.
“The wooden tree nails are still in place and holding after 400 years – what a testament to the craftsmanship at the time!”
Sandbags have been used in an attempt to preserve the historic wreck, described as ‘exceptionally rare’
“Exceptionally rare”
Hefin Meara, maritime archaeologist from Historic England said:
“The Swash Channel wreck is one of only 57 shipwrecks around the coast of England designated under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973. Firmly dated remains of vessels predating 1700 are exceptionally rare.
“We can’t say for certain that these fragments come from that wreck site, but it’s an intriguing possibility.”
Protected wrecks have legal protection because of their archaeological and historical significance, meaning that any disturbance or interference is only permitted under an official licence.
A model showing what the Fame of Hoorn would have looked like, and (red rectangle) where the newly found timbers would have been
Defend itself against pirates
The Fame of Hoorn was estimated to be around 40 metres long, 10 metres wide and 15 metres high. It would have been capable of carrying more than 40 guns to defend itself against pirates during voyages to the Caribbean to bring back salt.
Rare decorative wooden carvings found during excavations in 2013 indicate the ship must have been of high status, and include an intricately carved head of a man.
Such carvings were a long standing tradition on Dutch ships and it is thought to be either a Roman or a Dutch soldier of the time.
In 2013, after almost 10 years of underwater investigations and in the largest excavation since that of the Mary Rose, parts of the wreck including the carved head, and eight metre long rudder and other artefacts were brought to the surface.
The figurehead recovered from the Swash Channel wreck in 2013, now in Poole Museum
Gallery devoted to wrecks of Studland Bay
They are now on display in Poole Museum, which has just reopened after a £10 million refurbishment and has an entire gallery devoted to the shipwrecks of Studland Bay.
It includes a pair of 13th century Purbeck stone grave slabs and other finds from one of the oldest known shipwrecks in England, the 13th Century Mortar Wreck.
The latest discovery highlights the dynamic and constantly evolving nature of Studland’s coastline.
Rising sea levels and increasing extreme weather have accelerated the pace of change, with coastal erosion in some areas and the formation of beaches and dunes in others.
Timbers of what is believed part of the Swash Channel wreck have been uncovered by Storm Chandra on Studland beach
Recording and preserving shipwrecks
Sarah Coggins, coast and marine advisor for the National Trust said:
“In 1630 this section of beach would have been open sea. Over the past 400 years, sand has been deposited creating the dunes, wetlands and shoreline we see at Studland today.
“That’s why this historic wreck is found buried in sand rather than lying on the seabed and highlights the ever changing nature of the coast.”
Artefacts from Studland’s Mortar Wreck, dating from 1250 AD are also on display at Poole Museum
Discovery of the Mortar Wreck
The maritime archaeology team at Bournemouth University has been recording and preserving historic shipwrecks off England’s coast for over 20 years.
Recent projects they have led include the discovery of the Mortar Wreck, England’s oldest known shipwreck dating to the 13th century, the excavation of Esmeralda which sank in 1503, the Fame of Hoorn from 1631, and HMS Invincible which sank in 1758.
Students on the university’s archaeology course have the opportunity to learn diving skills and underwater excavation techniques, helping to develop the next generation of maritime archaeologists.
Further information
- More about the Swash Channel wreck on Historic England’s website
