History Hit's Dan Snow has been given exclusive access to the incredibly well-preserved remains of the 18th-century warship Northumberland.
Complete with cannons, muskets and coils of rope, it's a discovery that's rewriting our understanding of the evolution of the Royal Navy.
The special film sees Dan on a personal mission to restore HMS Northumberland to her rightful place in the story of the Royal Navy, as one of the most iconic and important ships, the missing link between the Mary Rose and HMS Victory.
Together with a team of leading experts, he'll be investigating the ship’s construction, her pivotal role in the Royal Navy‘s search for the perfect warship, and the circumstances surrounding her tragic loss.
The Great Storm of 1703 was one of the deadliest maritime disasters in history. A night of terror that cost the lives of over 1000 sailors and thirteen of the Royal Navy’s most valuable ships.
Tearing across the English Channel, swallowing ships, shattering cities, and claiming thousands of lives. Amongst the storm's casualties was Northumberland, one of the Royal Navy's most formidable warships, sunk with all hands.
Lost to the sea for over three hundred years. Shifting sands have started to reveal the broken vessel, once the pride of Her Majesty’s Fleet. But now, exposed to the elements, archaeologists are racing against time to save as much of the ship as possible before it’s gone forever.
Thanks to our partners at Historic England for granting us permission to film on the wreck site and The Historic Dockyard Chatham and Royal Maritime Museum for their support and participation.
Up Next in Season 1
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Captain Cook's Endeavour
Captain James Cook is one of the greatest maritime navigators in history. Born in 1728 to a Scottish father and English mother, Cook grew up in Yorkshire and soon developed a great fascination with the sea and exploration. In 1746 Cook joined the merchant shipping industry when he moved to the ne...
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Hunt for the U-576
A team of maritime archaeologists descends 700 feet off the coast of North Carolina in search of the U-576, a German submarine that went down in a historic 1942 battle, possibly trapping 45 Nazi sailors inside.
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Mayflower 400: Beyond the Journey
On 16 September 1620, 400 years ago, a merchant ship called the Mayflower departed from Plymouth, England, on a voyage to America. Its passengers sought a new life, for some this meant religious freedom and for some a fresh start in a new land. They would go on to be known as Pilgrims, and influe...
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