Rescued from the deep: A 500-year-old treasure of Naval history.
History isn't just found in books.
It exists in real objects you can reach out and touch.
And as a collector, owning them is one of life's greatest joys.
These objects are often incredibly rare or even unique. They have survived for centuries in the most unlikely circumstances.
And the fact that they are still here, and we can hold them in our hands today, is absolutely remarkable.
If you love history you'll understand exactly what I mean.
And you'll also understand why today's item is so special.
This story begins in 1510, as Henry VIII prepares for war...
When Henry VIII became King in 1509 he was already under threat from France and Scotland.
He immediately began building a Navy to protect England from invasion.
And the flagship of Henry's new fleet was the majestic Mary Rose.
“...the noblest ship of sail and great ship at this hour that I trow be in Christendom”.
Constructed from 600 oak trees and weighing 600 tons, she was one of the first sailing ships built for war with powerful broadside cannons.
She served the nation for 34 years through numerous battles, before sinking at the Battle of the Solent in 1545.
And that's where the tale of the Mary Rose should have ended.
But as I said, some historic objects find a way of surviving...
This is a genuine 500-year-old relic from the Mary Rose. An original piece of the ship's oak timbers.
It was raised from the seabed in 1982, as part of one of the greatest archaeological projects in maritime history. And it is the single largest section of the ship we have ever encountered outside a museum.
The history contained in this ancient piece of oak is extraordinary.
- It survived the Battle of St Mathieu against France in 1512
- It was part of England's victory against the Scots at the Battle of Flodden Field in 1513
- It escorted Henry VIII to France in 1520 for his historic meeting with Francis I at the the Field of Cloth of Gold
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And in 1545 it fought 200 French ships at the Battle of the Solent
The section of timber measures 11 inches by 5 inches.
That's significantly bigger than other fragments available to collectors.
It is beautifully mounted in a display frame ready to take pride of place in your collection.
And when you hang this magnificent relic on your wall, consider just how fortunate you are to own it today.
Because it once lay lost on the sea bed for almost 440 years.
The sinking of the Mary Rose.
In July 1545 more than 200 French ships sailed against England, in revenge for Henry VIII's attack on Boulogne.
They were met off the coast of Portsmouth in the Solent Straight by 80 English warships, and a bloody battle commenced.
The Mary Rose was quickly involved in the action, blasting the French with its heavy broadside cannons.
But as she turned to fire again, strong winds heeled her over and plunged the open gunports beneath the waves, sending water rushing into the hull.
Within mere moments she was sunk.
Henry watched from Southsea Castle in Portsmouth as his favourite ship vanished without a trace, dragging more than 350 men to a watery grave.
And there they lay, at the bottom of the Solent, for more than 400 years.
The Mary Rose became England's most famous shipwreck, just waiting to be rediscovered...
In 1971 the wreck of the Mary Rose was finally located on the sea bed, just 3km from Portsmouth harbour where she had launched in 1511.
The huge operation to save her was a landmark in maritime archaeology. And on October 11, 1982, she was finally raised to the surface.
Approximately 26,000 artefacts were also recovered, along with the remains of half the crew and the skeleton of the ship's dog.
But the ship itself was the greatest treasure.
And thanks to some extraordinary preservation work, it now survives as a spectacular museum exhibit.
This is English Naval history at its finest.
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