[TQ 86512758] About 1822, the remains of an ancient ship were found by accident in the former bed of the Rother near Matham Wharf, W. of the Isle of Oxney on the Kent side of the boundary with Sussex. The dimensions of the ship,when excavated,were found to be 63 ft. 8 ins. long with a breadth of 15 ft., clinker-built and of oak, but not of British growth. When the vessel was eventually floated the remains of a small boat were found about 16 ft. from the stern. This was about 15 ft. long and 5 ft. broad, flat-floored and very shallow. It fell to pieces on attempted removal. Various articles were found in the after cabin of the larger vessel, including earthenware pots, glazed tiles set up as a hearth and some human and other bones. Human remains were also dug up in the sand near the vessel. It is certain that it became derelict prior to 1623 because at that date a complete stop was made to the navigation of the Appledore Channel. (1) The pottery and other articles found on board might well be from the beginning of the 17th.c., and the ship itself is not unlike some of those shown in contemporary engravings as in use on the Netherlands waterways and the lower Rhine. It is suggested that the crew might have been plague victims, which might account for the human remains and the fact that the vessel was left so comparitively intact, blocking the navigation channel of the river. There was a severe outbreak of plague both here and on the continent in 1625, The vessel was exhibited in London for some time but Deacon(a) tells us that it was then broken up and some of the wood used for the manufacture of souvenirs. (2) TQ 278868 (sic) (TQ 868278). Various objects found within the barge (4) or 'Cog' (3) from Matham Wharf are clearly late medieval from the descriptions given at the time of discovery. June Swann, of the Northampton Boot and Shoe Museum, suggests a Tudor date, 1510-40 for the pair of shoes found in the cabin or galley. (4) The presence of human skeletal material and domestic pottery suggest a somewhat dramatic end (3) to the sea-going trading vessel, (4) and the wreck was soon buried by sand and silt. This may have happened any time from about AD 1280-1550 (3) but a date no earlier than the begining of the 16th century seems probable. (3-4)

<1> Archaeologia 20. 1824. 553-563 Illust. & site plan. (W.M.Rice) (OS Card Reference). SKE37305.

<2> Ancient Rye (J L Deacon) (OS Card Reference). SKE33067.

<3> Sussx County Mag 24 1950 53-5 (W M Homan) (OS Card Reference). SKE49777.

<4> KAR 70 Winter 1982 232-5 (B J Philp) illus (C Rose) (OS Card Reference). SKE45412.

<5> BAR 53 1978 258-60 (V Fenwick) (OS Card Reference). SKE37537.