Residents and visitors in Southend-on-Sea have the opportunity to learn about a nationally significant piece of history this weekend as the volunteer dive team investigating the wreck of the HMS London leads a guided walk along the pier on Saturday 16 May 2026.
The event, organised by the Nautical Archaeology Society, invites participants to join lead divers Steve and Carol Ellis for a 1.33-mile stroll to the end of the pier (and back). Those interested in attending should meet at the pier ticket office at 10.45am for an 11am departure. The walk costs a £10 donation per person, with proceeds supporting the ongoing conservation efforts for the historic shipwreck.
The HMS London, a warship built in 1656, exploded and sank in the Thames Estuary on 7 March 1665, claiming over 300 lives, including many women and children. Often referred to as the Mary Rose of the Thames, the site is legally protected and lies near busy commercial shipping lanes. Steve Ellis, who holds a license from Historic England, has completed approximately 500 dives to the site. He describes the working conditions as diving in near-zero visibility, often comparing the murky environment to swimming in blancmange.
The wreckage is currently facing rapid erosion due to strong tides and turbulence from container ships passing within 50 metres. Because the project receives no regular public funding, the volunteer team is working to raise £200,000 to preserve the site and its artefacts. Recent recovery efforts have included personal items, navigational tools, and a rare 17th-century gun carriage, many of which are held by the Southend Central Museum.
Participants in Saturday’s walk can expect to hear firsthand accounts of the challenges involved in underwater archaeology and the importance of protecting the site from further damage. The event is set to conclude at the café at the end of the pier around midday.
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