Image: Coal recovered from the wreck of the Titanic (Lay's Auctioneer)
Objects from Cornwall’s Charlestown Shipwreck Museum, which had been set for sale have been acquired by the Maritime Archaeology Sea Trust (MAST)
Shipwreck artefacts described by Historic England as among the largest and most important in the country has been partially saved from sale.
Last week, an auction of objects held by Cornwall’s Charlestown Shipwreck Museum took place, but a last minute deal saw its Protected Wreck collection secured by the Maritime Archaeology Sea Trust (MAST).
Sir Tim Smit, best known as founder of the Eden Project, bought the museum 10 years ago, but decided to sell both the collection and the building. Smit told the BBC the museum “doesn’t make enough surplus to turn it into the great museum it could be, so we put it up for sale because we know it will all go to very good homes”.
Among many hundreds of items, it includes material from 12 Designated Protected Wrecks which have the same status as the Mary Rose. Artefacts saved include those retrieved from multiple Royal Navy warships including HMS Ramillies, HMS Association and English and Dutch East India Company wrecks.
MAST said it is planning local and national opportunities with museums around the country, including support from The National Museum of the Royal Navy and Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust.
It said it will look to “share and learn from this important resource that not only tells the story of the development of maritime archaeology in the UK but also the history and archaeology of the Royal Navy and the development of international trade”.
Jessica Berry, CEO of The Maritime Archaeology Sea Trust (MAST) added: “I’m delighted and relieved in equal measure that MAST has been able to save this priceless collection that can tell countless stories of the history and archaeology of the Royal Navy and the development of global trade through the centuries. MAST has now taken the collection out of private ownership so its risk of being dispersed again has now gone forever”
Sir Tim Smit, KBE, said, “We, at the Shipwreck & Treasure Museum, are delighted that MAST is buying the artefacts from what are now protected wrecks saving a unique collection for the Nation. It is especially pleasing as MAST is made up of members who themselves have dedicated so much of their lives to exploring our underwater heritage.”
Among objects which were sold was a lump of coal recovered from the wreck of the Titanic, which fetched £1,500.
