The HMS Hermes began service as a flagship before it was modified to accommodate seaplanes, and eventually met a tragic end in the Straits of Dover. Five students from Barton Peveril Sixth Form College, aided by the research from volunteer Andrew Daw, share the story of this vessel which was lost 110 years ago today.  [...]

Volunteer diver Jezz Davies was delighted to receive three invitations back in 2024 after enjoying a couple of days diving with the Maritime Archaeology Trust (MAT) team in July 2023. In this blog, Jezz shares his account of diving six days on Wight Spirit out of Lymington, totalling sixteen dives at Bouldnor Cliff that season. [...]

On October 25th, over 100 years ago, the Velox met its end in the eastern Solent and the site has been investigated several times since. Recent work experience student Aiden tells the story of this ship and its final voyage.  Launched on February 11, 1902 as the HMS Python it was later bought and renamed [...]

This crossword, created by MAT volunteer Roger Burns, features ships’ names which are also variously worldwide cities and towns, a foreign mountain range, foreign countries, UK rivers and edifices. As usual, “linking” words are included, some are nautical or maritime, and some are not. Answers including associated weblinks will be posted next month. Download, print, [...]

MAT is delighted to be taking forward a project assessing the remains of Metal hulled sailing vessels within English Territorial Waters.  Thanks to funding from Historic England we are exploring the history and significance of these vessels. Volunteers are involved in undertaking this research. We hear from Jack Thorode, a Masters Student from Southampton University, [...]

In July 2023, MAT’s Project Officer Greta embarked on the HSE commercial SCUBA divers’ course at Andark Diving School, made possible thanks to the Maritime Archaeology Trust. One year later, Greta reflects on the course itself and diving at Bouldnor Cliff since. We approach the underwater platform in Vobster Quay, our first dive, and watch [...]

Find out what a group of college students did for their placement at MAT!

Our previous crosswords have mostly featured ships whereas this one created by MAT volunteer Roger Burns has one type of ship, with answers being artefacts in the Shipwreck Centre and Maritime Museum on the Isle of Wight. These artefacts represent a tiny snapshot of what has been mostly recovered from beneath the waves and now [...]

Eighty years ago on 6 June 1944, D-Day, Operation Neptune,  a component of Operation Overlord, swung into action as the Allies launched their invasion of Europe on the Normandy beaches, and Southampton was key to one of the largest ever amphibious landings in history. Volunteer Roger Burns looks back, from a Southampton perspective, at preparations [...]

A dramatic introduction to intended trans-oceanic sailing followed by its untimely demise, the sailing vessel Irex could hardly have had more misfortune on its maiden voyage! Volunteer Roger Burns recounts the events of its short and expensive life.  The Irex features within the Unpath’d Waters Needles Voyager  and is also being researched as part of [...]