The Solent Forum

Working in partnership for the future

Wrecks

For centuries ships have been grounded along the shores of the Solent. Many wrecks were caused by adverse weather and careless navigation.  A number of known and designated wreck sites exist in the Solent; these are protected under the Protection of Wrecks Act, 1973 and include:

The Marine Archaeology Trust has lots of information on intertidal wreck sites in the Solent. Many divers like to visit wreck sites and the Nautical Archaeological Society has details of dive trails.

The New Forest National Park's Coastal Heritage project studied 51 miles (82km) of coastline between Southampton and the Dorset border and up to six nautical miles off-shore. The trail takes in four wrecks dating from 1881 through to 1978. There is evidence of human activity along the Solent coast dating back 125,000 years and the trail takes in prehistoric activity charting local industries from salt works to shipbuilding as well as smuggling and national defence.


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