Something slightly different - Save the London 1665 Appeal
First heard of 'The London' some years ago when was involved in the The Great War at Sea Poetry Project and found a poem about HMS Vanguard, a naval ship, that exploded whilst moored at Scapa Flow on 9th July 1917, with the loss of at least 804 lives. Another internal explosion occurred on board HMS Bulwark on 26th November 1914, off Sheerness, Kent. costing 741 lives. I became curious about other naval ships that blew up whist moored away from hostile action.
So began to notice the 'London', a 76 gun second rate ship of the line, launched at Chatham Dockyard in June 1656. Has not featured particularly in the accounts of Cromwell's navy. The 'London' was one of the ships that escorted Charles II back to England in 1660, and carried James Duke of York on board.
The second Anglo-Dutch war broke out on 4th March 1665. Most historians regard the conflict as having its origins in colonial and commercial rivalry between the two countries. On September 8th 1664 the Dutch Republic had to surrender New Amsterdam to an English Naval squadron, and the city was renamed New York. Clashes occurred off the Gold Coast of Africa and in the West Indies. The English domination of the Channel also hindered the Dutch Republic trading access to their overseas territories.
The 'London' had taken on board men and provision ready for fighting, then moored near Southend when its magazine suddenly exploded on 7th March 1665. Samuel Pepys' Diary entry for the following day describes casualties of "above 300" , which is still the accepted figure, and reported the "ship breaking all in pieces" . The latter claim is not quite accurate, the blast impact caused a major part of the ship to split away and sink 2 miles from its moorings, The wreck of the 'London' was re-discovered in 2005 lying in the mud of the Thames Estuary.
The exact cause of the explosion is not known. One suggestion has been the recycling of artillery cartridges - 'The Daily Mail' 5th August 2015 . Or even careless smoking of clay pipes below deck- a number of pipes have been retrieved from the wreck. : Generally speaking, smoking was only permitted in a certain space on board a war ship * .
From Andrew Marvell's poem ' 'The Second Advice to a Painter for drawing the History of our navall busynesse. '
" Like Nero's Rome, burnt to rebuild it new.
What lesser Sacrifice that this was meet
To offer for the safety of the Fleet?
Blow one Ship up, another thence does grow;
See What free Cityese and wise Courts can do!
So some old Merchant, to ensure his Name
Marries afresh, and Courtiers share the Dame.
So whatseoere is broke the Servants pay't;
And Glasses are more durable than Plate. "
Some interesting thoughts indeed. The explosion of the 'London' is depicted as some lesson for the fleet to learn. Careless storing of such dangers material on board warships was still an issue at the time of the Battle of Jutland in 1916. The poem references that the Merchants of London launched an appeal to replace the ship, and succeeded with the launch of the 'Loyal London' on 10th June 1666 -an event also recorded by Samuel Pepys. The theme of the old merchant who marries only to find that his wife is unfaithful with a courtier, seems a strange aside in this context. The poem itself first appeared in April 1666.
The 'Loyal London' was set on fire by the Dutch at the time of the notorious Raid on Chatham in 1667, salvaged, then rebuilt, and launched again as the 'London' in 1670, So the lines of Marvell's poem became true.
In 2008 the wreck was listed as 'Protected' under the remit of the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 . Historic England has supported two limited excavations,whilst a team of experienced divers- who pay their own expenses- from the London Shipwreck Trust have retrieved artefacts from the wreck, The Nautical Archaeology Trust are all supporting this work.
The novel 'The Blast That Tears the Skies' by J D Davies, features the 'London' explosion, and the author has presented talks on the subject.
Yet time is not on the side of this enterprise. The course of natural erosion, being near vital shipping channels, and the advent of the London Gateway Port development, means that the wreck of the 'London' is threatened.
On the 3rd July 2019 the 'Save the London Campaign' was launched by the Nautical Archaeology Trust and the London Shipwreck Trust. The aim is to raise £200,000 initially to support the ongoing diving expeditions to recover as many artefacts from the wreck as possible. A longer term goal is to support the building of a dry dock museum in Southend on Sea, similar to the building that houses the 'Marie Rose' at Portsmouth Dockyard.
An ambitious aim indeed. People interested in 17th century history sometimes grumble that the massive enthusiasm for the Tudors overshadows the Stuart era so whether the public will take to the appeal is not easy to predict. And the Anglo-Dutch war of 1665-1667 is not part of our national identity, and probably a war few people in Britain would want to commemorate. Those very years are also dominated by the Plague and the Fire of London. But personally have to admire this Appeal along with the organisations and individuals involved. Most certainly Impressed by their enthusiasm and imagination.
A day of talks took place on 7th March 2020 in Southend on Sea about the 'London' appeal. A similar day of lectures - this time one line -will be held on 6th March 2021 billed as Discover the London . Accessible via donation starting at £5.00 +'Eventbrite' fee.
It would be great if readers of this blog could Donate But for anyone who is not in a position to, viewing and liking the related Youtube videos , subscribing to the 'London' Appeal channel ,visiting the links below, are all a great help in spreading the word.
Note * Ben Wilson, in his impressive his work - 'Empire of the Deep-the rise and Fall of the British Navy' (2013) suggests that pipe smoking was only permitted by a tub of water in the forecastle of a ship in the Restoration navy. I have not been able to find a reference to pipe smoking within provisions of the 1661 Naval Discipline Act.
I would like to particularly acknowledge the article 'A Wreck from Cromwell's Navy' by Mark Beattie-Edwards from the magazine 'The Protector's Pen' ,Vol 22, February 2020, published by the Cromwell Association for background information. However, any mistakes or errors in this post are my own.
Links to the 'London'
Financial Appeal Help save 'The London' via the Nautical Archaeology Society.
Cotwswold Archaeology page on the 'London'
Youtube
'Samuel Pepys and the loss of The London' Talk by J D Davies , Southend , 7th March 2020
'The Future of The London ' by Mark Beattie-Edwards ( Nautical Archaeology Society ) Talk , Southend , 7th March 2020
'Diving the Wreck of 'The London' by Steve Ellis Talk, Southend, 7th March 2020
UPDATE -2022
There will be a joint fundraiser/ study date for Save the London and the Cromwell Museum on 6th March 2022. Can be attended in person at Huntingdon Town Hall or on line. Event details
I was also pleased to interview Mark Beattie Edwards about the London appeal via email .
Other Blogs by Michael Bully
As ever, hope that all blog readers stay safe and well during these turbulent times.
Michael Bully, Brighton, 22nd February 2021.
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