Medieval shipwreck found off the southern coast of England

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Three shipwrecks, including one from the 13th Century, have been given the highest level of legal protection.

The Mortar Wreck found off the Dorset coast has become the oldest protected wreck in English waters. Its timbers date from between 1242 and 1265. Ring dating showed trees used to build it were felled during the reign of King Henry III.

Tom Cousins, a maritime archaeologist at Bournemouth University, said: "Very few 750-year-old ships remain for us to be able to see today and so we are extremely lucky to have discovered an example as rare as this.

"A combination of low-oxygenated water, sand and stones has helped preserve one side of the ship, and the hull is clearly visible."

"I was granted permission to dive the wreck [and] the rest is history. I've found one of the oldest shipwrecks in England" Mr Small, of Rocket Charters diving group said.

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