Bartholomew Ledges Wreck

About

The Bartholomew Ledges Wreck is a wreck found in the late 1970s at St Mary's Sound, Isles of Scilly is believed to be that of a mid-sixteenth to early seventeenth century armed cargo vessel. The site was designated under the Protection of Wrecks Act on 23 September 1980. The wreck is a Protected Wreck managed by Historic England.

The wreck: The wreck appears to be an armed cargo ship that grounded on Bartholomew Ledges and foundered. Spanish-type lead ingots likely dating to the sixteenth to early seventeenth century found within the vessel indicate that it is of Iberian origin, and possibly related to the Spanish Armada. Also found on the site were medieval bronze bell fragments that could be traced back to The Lord Nelson public house at Poole, Dorset. Further finds include breech-loading iron guns, anchors, pottery fragments, silver coins dating from 1474 to 1555, a gold seal, barrel spigots, iron and stone shot, buttons, and small lace brass objects.

Discovery and investigation: The wreck site was found in the 1970s and was salvaged intensively until 1980 when salvage became prohibited after the designation of the wreck. In 2003 the wreck was subject to an archaeological...