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Admiral Shovell's Treasure and Shipwreck in the Isles of Scilly, by Peter McBride and Richard Larn
Admiral Shovell's Treasure and Shipwreck in the Isles of Scilly, by Peter McBride and Richard Larn
The best of British treasure wrecks, the Association in the Scilly Isles, has been a source not only of hoards of gold and silver coins, but of books, articles and entries in thousands of divers' logbooks.
Now here comes another book on the subject. This time the authors are both Association divers: Richard Larn, who was onto it at the very beginning of the gold rush, and Peter McBride who, although best known to archaeological divers for his work on Coronation and Ramillies, is an authority on the Scilly site of Sir Cloudesley Shovell's flagship as well.
The book, Admiral Shovell's Treasure, is a good read. It is, as you would expect from these two, well researched, to the extent of including the names of the crews lost from the ships sunk with Association on 22 October, 1707, and the payments to each beneficiary!
The book is well-timed. The salvors in possession are now launching a special search for the stern of the Association, which was said to have broken off in her wrecking and has never been found.
Missing with it, say the authors, are the admiral's personal gold tableware - enough for 60 diners - most of the ship's navigational instruments and even her rudder and the 18 pintles which held it. Finding that will make another book! Kendall McDonald |
Admiral Shovell's Treasure and Shipwreck in the Isles of Scilly, by Peter McBride and Richard Larn, Tor Mark Press (01209 822101). Softback, 202pp, £14.99; hardback £19.99
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