Ex. BRIDGEWATER.

Whilst lying at Sheerness, a dockyard working party arrived on board during the afternoon to carry out work in the magazine. Shortly after there was a massive explosion below decks, causing the forepart of the vessel to be ripped apart, the after section remaining afloat for some time before sinking. John Adams, the ship's gunner, who was ashore at the time, initially insisted that there was no gunpowder on board, but enquiries revealed that the had been stealing quantities of black powder, and had kept back a quantity after entering harbour, instead of landing it. He was ordered to be sent to the Marshalsea Prison for an unspecified period. Some 120 crew were killed in the explosion, plus five dockyard workers. A further twenty men were picked up alive, of whom five later died as a result of their injuries. An Admiralty order of 01-AUG-1674 required the Sheerness Dockyard staff to destroy the wreck `by such means for blowing her to pieces as may be found most effectual.' The last reference to pieces of wreck being removed is dated MAR-1675. (2)
remains of the wreck were not removed until March 1675.

Built: 1654
Where Built: Deptford
Captain: Captain Thomas Elliott, RN
Crew: At least 140
Crew Lost: 125
Passengers Lost: 5
Owner: Royal Navy
Armament: 58 cannon

Date of Loss Qualifier: Actual date of loss

Additional sources cited in United Kingdom Shipwreck Index:
SRN.Vol.1 p89; SNR.Occ.Pub. No.5 Part 1 p17 (No.210)

<1> British Warship losses in the Age of Sail 1650-1859 (Monograph). SKE6713.

<2> Larn, Richard and Bridget, 1995, Shipwreck index of the British Isles, volume 2 : Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Sussex, Kent (Mainland), Kent (Downs), Goodwin Sands, Thames (Bibliographic reference). SKE31910.