The Incredible Historic Shipwrecks Still Lying in British Rivers

'The Incredible Historic Shipwrecks Still Lying in British Rivers'
In 2013, a survey around the UK identified 199 different assemblages of hulks, remains of craft. These included paddle ships, ferries, steamboats, sail ships, submarines and fishing boats.
All around the UK, in rivers and streams, and in the mud on the side of riverbeds are the remains of our maritime past, which helps us understand who were are today.
In this stunning documentary, historian and archaeologist Dr Sam Willis travels along the River Dart, from Totnes to Dartmouth, to explore the wreckage of ships of our maritime past.
Along the way Sam finds wreckage of an old Edwardian paddle steamer, a floating harbour used during the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944 and an 18th Century bathing house. He also stops off at the temporary residence of best-selling novelist and crime writer, Agatha Christie.
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[@tedcopple101]

Sam Willis is a great presenter, definitely should be commissioned for a lot more.

[@nickgreaves3355]

I agree wholeheartedly!

[@unclemontypython]

Anything with Sam Willis is an instant watch for me - definitely one of the best historian presenters around!

[@MGMan-ce7sf]

History Hit is truly the "gold standard" of history on KZbin and the internet. Production values, topics, presentation are all of the highest quality. Please keep it coming!

[@HistoryHit]

Really appreciate this comment, thank you!

[@john07973]

Full of wokeness though

[@sabre242]

@@john07973 wokeness is a made up word for people stuck in the 50s

[@beedalton9675]

@@HistoryHit I started watching history channel when dan and his dad did documentaries on Spanish armada and battlefield Britain thanks for the videos everyone. Been nice if Britain kept a actual battleship for a museum that would of been a nice walk thru documentary 😀

[@alexanderkostan2488]

This is the best history documentary channel ever!! it’s a shame that the history channel doesn’t have documentaries like this anymore but thank you very much for continuing on such amazing history documentaries!! I’m a huge fan of American history anything from wars, presidential and world history, to shipwrecks, trains, to anything else historical. Thank you very much for making such amazing documentaries. I watched every single documentary that pops up on the screen from timeline and history hit network.

[@HistoryHit]

Really appreciate and value your support 🙏

[@MrMrliamo]

Old England is so beautiful, brilliant documentary, all the best, liam from the West of Ireland

[@Vladpryde]

Great to see Dr. Willis again! Big fan of his documentaries!

[@JohnDavies-cn3ro]

This is simply the best film I've found on youtube. I know the Dart a little, recognised some of the shots. The stories of the different finds were clearly told, tieing them into their place in history and helping the viewer relive their parts. The two paddle steamers are sad - I have a fondness for them - many of their sisters playing vital, active roles in both world wars before fading from the scene. Indeed, my first trip to the Isle of Wight was on one of the last paddlers, in about 1960. The last time I went from Yarmouth to Lymington there was a German E boat, rotting away near Lymington pier, and two Great War destroyers still lie in a mud bank on the Solent. Plenty more for you to film.

[@ozzieparky]

Love the tempo of this one - relaxing and gentle but informative at the same time. Helped by great scenery too!

[@derekstocker6661]

What a great video, what a great narrator and what fabulous scenery and wonderful stories of the places visited. The old shipwrecks are sad, and one can imagine those timbers being worked on by hand all those decades ago. The iron ships are just sculptures standing out of the mud and water now but one can visualise them in the day almost. Thanks so much for this, looks a fabulous way to spend the day, the scenery is astounding and great filming as well.

[@jacobandrew4168]

That is a man confident in his paddle boarding ability.

[@sarahstrong7174]

Yes. I noticed he is wearing clothes. A lot wear wet suits or swimming gear.

[@Carrera-gp9od]

Not seen this presenter for a while , he did an excellent series on pirates on bbc4 a few years ago . Great presenter , more of this please 👍🏻

[@laurenceatchison1]

Really interesting video, with some interesting bits of history in an unassuming place. Agree with some others that a few of the music choices are a bit distracting for this sort of video.

[@nickalderson4563]

What a fascinating video. I would love to drift down the River Dart photographing the wrecks and writing the history of them. Before they disappear for ever. Very well put together.

[@robbieg416]

This was so wonderful. Thank you very much!

[@colinporter1578]

I love the use of the SUP and drone. I enjoy exploring on my SUP. So peaceful.

[@markclifton14]

Sam Willis really does put across history really well great presenter.

[@catherine59226]

What a glorious day! Enjoyed this video very much. Awesome learning channel. Thank you.

[@Terra-YT]

Looks like another smashing video History Hit! I'll enjoy watching this one! Your consistency inspires me to keep making my own content! Keep doing what you do!

[@FilthyBritain]

Terra is on the grind!

[@ethansstopmotionstudio1254]

nice work buddy

[@bromccrone7042]

I definitely enjoyed the video and loved hearing about all the stories behind each of the wrecks. The only thing I would say is the music choices, which didnt seem to mix very well with what was being shown. But other than that, very good video chaps.

[@antoineboutier8837]

Amazing video. Thanks a lot!

[@jeffreymontgomery4091]

Not even 5 min in and can't look away! Captivating, the story and the cinematography are bang on!! 😊

[@nickbenke3306]

In a small channel just off the Manchester Ship Canal near Lymm, there is a collection of barges ran aground since war time. They are made of concrete, Yes really! They are in good condition and one has a fully grown tree sprouting up from the deck! Thanks for an interesting and relaxing clip! Bravo!

[@Lobstrex]

Look into Lynher, a Tamar barge. She was a hulk in the mud, and has been beautifully restored. Had the pleasure of working onboard recently.

[@pilates68]

Absolutely fascinating documentary!! So well presented.

[@swagmanexplores7472]

Really enjoyed this ! Thanks from Australia 👍

[@anthonystevens8683]

A terrific video History Hit, brilliant production and editing and very well presented by Sam. I've leaned so much from the few months as a subscriber to the channel. Many thanks for sharing.

[@HistoryHit]

Many thanks!

[@MartysWhiteSuit]

Very enjoyable and engaging programme.

[@funkyspacecow]

Lovely video! Most important takeaway for me is that I really ought to plan a boating holiday in Devon the next time I'm in England.

[@nospoon4799]

So glad I had this guy to tell me who I am....

[@adrianwarner8686]

Thank you, this was just what I needed today.

[@norellebarnett7636]

Loved your video, thank you

[@HistorySkills]

You guys always make the most interesting videos. Thank you.

[@moobaz8675]

Brilliant. Its amazing what is around us that we don't see.

[@MrTwotimess]

I can imagine these wreck sites have been picked clean by treasure - and relic hunters.

[@harrisonpurdy2004]

I really enjoyed this presentation and would love to see more of him exploring other shipwrecks and their history.

[@andrewmarch7891]

THANKS YOU SO MUCH A REALLY GOOD REFLECTIVE LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF THIS ESTUARY. RELLY HELPFUL.

[@Emthe30something]

This was a fantastic presentation and liked the edit on this as well. Not to mention the content. Kudos!

[@michelleselway8866]

More of these please!

[@bradwooten4272]

I absolutely enjoyed that. The cinematography is fantastic!

[@DJL78]

Gorgeous indeed.

[@123boat]

Fantastic video 👏 I didn’t want it to end!

[@kooperativekrohn819]

Calming documentary 😊 great one🎉🇬🇧

[@pierremainstone-mitchell8290]

Very well done indeed! And I particularly admire you sense of balance standing on your inflatable paddleboard!

[@alasdairpickering3460]

In Lost Ships of the West Country, published 1988, the EFFORT was definitely not a Brigham trawler (wrong shape and dimensions) but rather a trading ketch built in Kingsbridge around 1880. I was at the naval college in the 1970s and well remember the hulks sitting in Old Mill Creek. Some were quite whole at the time, even possible to read the name on one, which surprisingly wasn’t mentioned in this video.

[@nwae8812]

Great informative and interesting.

[@glebeboi]

enjoying the documentary so far as I just got to the end of the first wreck. It would be helpful to learn if more details were given on how the shipwreck came to be here, what caused its demise & why it was just left behind & possibly not restored.

[@sarahstrong7174]

The first one as you go down the river from Totnes was deliberately burnt to the waterline because it had been a hospital-ship used for cholera patients, as far as I remember. Either that or it was prisoners.

[@Mr107sam]

So beautiful!

[@johnlustig4322]

Beautiful....

[@MOS6510Models]

Kingswear Castle’s steam engine, a 130HP two-cylinder compound diagonal steam engine by Cox of Falmouth, is unusual in having both cylinders ahead of the paddle crankshaft, instead of astern of the shaft as is the more usual British practice. The engine dates from 1904, twenty years earlier than the rest of the ship. This is because her engine came from the earlier 1904 Kingswear Castle, the latter being relegated to being an isolation ship moored in Dartmouth Harbour. At the end of her useful life the 1904 ship was deliberately set on fire and abandoned to rot on the banks of the Dart opposite Sharpham House where her rusting hulk is still visible. It was placed there as a breakwater.

[@alasdairpickering3460]

And those 1904 engines are still operating in the 1924 Kingswear Castle. Restored by the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society.

[@leebriggs4798]

fantastic video!!!

[@HistoryHit]

Thank you!

[@Toldale15]

Great video with a great presenter. Loved it!

[@junehawker2364]

I'm pleased to find someone that is not American (Sorry America ) but I like my history spoken by an English historian

[@stogmot1]

i love visiting dittisham on our boat , thankyou for very interesting guide

[@robreibel3491]

Nicely shot and edited. The background music is a tad annoying.

[@diveexplore]

Fantastic documentary, new sub here! Btw someone tell Sam his paddle is facing the wrong way, small point!

[@HistoryHit]

Thanks for the sub!

[@user-th3pg8og1s]

superb

[@katherinecollins4685]

Very good

[@watchandlearn1705]

Music at 12.22 a bit rough and breaks the peaceful ambiance of this video

[@seansabhaois]

Superb video and presentation 🙂👍 Quite errie and mystical. If those boats could speak, what amazing stories they would tell. Some of the river scenes, could be out of Tom Sawyer or Huckleberry Finn.

[@sc2320]

quality 💯💪

[@roysoutdoorlife]

I grew up on the Dart. We used to visit the King'swear Castle and play on it as kids in the late 70s/early 80s. It looked a bit different back then!

[@trevorgardner6384]

Cool video, gratuitously dramatic music distracted from the overall feel but would love to see this series continue

[@jwoods1732]

28:53 some fish feeding on smaller fish in the top left

[@flippy66]

The loss of things is not necessarily a sad tale. Few things were made to last forever, let alone ships.

[@ophiocephalus]

Froe Creek near Portscatho, Cornwall used to have a beautifully eerie atmosphere, no people just still water and long abandoned watercraft. My family had a home in St Mawes and the trips to Towan Beach were always made and a stop at Froe for me to walk by the ghosts was mandatory. What a shame that the local authority decided to remove all of ther wrecks...... it's still as beautiful but a whole chapter of unknown history is gone.

[@peterstevenson5418]

I think the old royal iris from the river mersey has been left to rot on the thames

[@sicstar]

Recently got a link handed from a mate with the Restored Jagdpanther... This channel here is epic and you earned a new subscriber. Love your work, much appreciated

[@billybobhouse9559]

I'd love to have a gobat this. Maybe take a kayak down the same route. Did you have to paddle all the way back again afterwards?

[@gs425]

At 12.20, when you pull your sup onto the shore there are a whole series of sticks, pipes maybe, sticking out of the mud at a shallow angle. I see those on other estuaries. Does anyone know what they are ?

[@metanoian965]

Nice, easy presentation. Thanks. - . - - => List Of Shipwrecks Around Britain - images for maps / archives / pics Century, Year, month, day, types of vessels extensive, unfinished

[@sarahstrong7174]

The sad thing is that the river Dart is silting up in Totnes, so badly now that in a few years it will not be possible to take a boat trip from Totnes.

[@Bobbymaccys]

Top tier presenter

[@andrefiset3569]

U boats must reserve their torpedoes for more consistent prey than small fishing boats. Making surface and using their cannon make more sense.

[@divaden47]

Great video. Marvellous drone shots of the wrecks. Can I please correct. or give an alternative for, the pronunciation of Walter Rayleigh. In parts of the US it's pronounced Raw-lee, in UK, Rah-lee.

[@johnosborne4856]

Also in Dartmouth there are 2 submarines buried under the park

[@k9killer221]

Shipwrights and ship carpenters routinely did church roofing. The techniques are identical to making a ship.

[@sarahstrong7174]

If you are interested in that might be worth taking a look at the roof of the church hall of St Johns, Hooe.

[@k9killer221]

@@sarahstrong7174 I've seen churches in France where the curator definitely said the roofing was done by ship carpenters, under the supervision of shipwright. They are basically upside down ship keels.

[@natstoten7387]

​@@sarahstrong7174 where is that as I know a place called hope but it might be a different place

[@sarahstrong7174]

@@natstoten7387 Hooe, Plymouth, Devon, U.K.

[@aidanacebo9529]

strange wrecks lying in rivers, distributing memories. that's no basis for a preservation of history. some moistened brig flaps it's jib at me, doesn't make me a naval historian. whot we need is a.... dedicated team of experts to recover and preserve these things!

[@Aeonshield]

That damn piano track that keeps playing has Where Are You Christmas stuck in my head, and I am not at all pleased about it! lol

[@catherton4]

a Mayfly is listed as a Mersey Ferryboat in1824.

[@pcka12]

I have never heard before that the Armada crews were starving.

[@richardgadsby9060]

I was very interested to hear about the TCTs as my dear old mum, as a welders mate, helped to build them when she lived in Alloa.

[@Awilliams_94]

What’s the name of the song playing in the beginning

[@JohnyG29]

Its called "Generic TV Plinky Plonky Piano Tune #354"

[@hamshackleton]

Lots of pretty scenery, plenty of talking head shots, plenty of words, but mostly devoid of content. There are probably more abandoned hulks in the Mersey and Dee estuaries alone, than the text gives credit to for the whole of the UK coastline. Not a mention of the Naval College of Dartmouth.

[@gs425]

199? There's more than that listed In published books just in Devon and Cornwall. What I will say though is that this stage of history is disappearing. Boats have rarely been made of wood (and dumped in creeks ) for the last 60 years or so. Plastic boat end of life is another problem in itself

[@PJM273]

Clearly before the Dept of You-Can't-Park-There-Mate, was established...

[@davidprocter3578]

Only 199 you could find that around the Solent and nearby ports alone, I don't think they were trying or were working to very constrictive parameters .That or harbour authorities around the coast have been very busy clearing the mud flats and creeks over the last thirty years. Lovely trip down the Dart really enjoyed it

[@DJL78]

How does one go from kneeling to standing without falling off? This is THE question. 🤔

[@sarahstrong7174]

I believe it requires practice.

[@BonesyTucson]

Good music in this, kudos to the composer.

[@brucejenner4800]

Perit could have been better to have an overview/scale sort of thing?

[@tomstone1566]

what on earth is that dreadful noise between episodes?

[@hughjarse4627]

Most of them look like that on the Humber only there still at work

[@Sam_Green____4114]

l thought the paddle steamer was going to be the SS Ryde (pier ? ) . There was a serious attempt to save it in the 90s but that came to nothing ! lt's rotting somewhere now in the Solent l think and is now beyond saving !

[@Emthe30something]

2:46 alright, no need to make me tear up with that incredible speech. And I'm across the pond in the U.S.A to boot. But we're all connected by and to the ocean stories .

[@jean-pierredeclemy7032]

That music begins to annoy really quickly.

[@tramlink8544]

10:10, Sam Willis is a great presenter, but not much for submarine history it seems. WW1 submarines almost always engaged while on the surface. these were basically submersabile boats, compared to the bigger subs from ww2 and cold war subs. fishing boats would have always been engaged with the surface gun, torpedoes would just go under the hulls, and are too expensive to use on small targets

[@SonOfFurzehatt]

This is disappointingly thin on information. "Who knows how long it's been here", says the historian, rather than giving us the actual history. "Trading whatever they traded" - thanks for that.

[@karmamarie2543]

If you’d like to see a bunch of sunken boats together and you’re anywhere Maryland look up Mallows Bay.

[@CycolacFan]

Been searching in vain online to find out what ‘a bading house’ is. That ‘castle’ built by the local MP. Anyone…?

[@makeitsonumberone1358]

Thumb nail~ I didnt think the thunder child was real? Lol

[@sarahstevens2727]

Why didn’t you use a picture of the Kingswear castle instead of a generic paddle steamer images . Her successor is still working on the river, it would have been preferable to have a picture of her than what looked like the Waverley.

[@revidual]

A bit light on facts, a bit heavy on speculative opinion, some of it contradictory.