Investigators believe they have located the wreck of the Blessing of Burntisland, a royal ship that sank in the Firth of Forth 400 years ago while carrying a treasure of silver and gold for King Charles I. The estimated value of the cargo at the time was £100,000, which is equivalent to approximately £20 million today.
The ship, carrying 35 passengers and crew, capsized in a storm in July 1633 while en route from Fife to Leith as part of Charles I's coronation tour. All but two aboard perished, and the valuable cargo vanished without a trace.
Decades-Long Search
For 30 years, volunteers from Burntisland Heritage have been searching the tidal estuary for the lost vessel. Difficult conditions, including poor visibility and shifting silt, along with the wreck's presumed depth, have made the search exceptionally challenging. Advances in modern technology, however, are credited with the potential breakthrough.
Researchers from the Charles Wrex Project, led by Burntisland Heritage, employed subsea ground-penetrating radar to scan beneath the estuary's silt. This technique uses ultra-low frequency sound waves to create an image of the layers below the seabed, enabling the detection of ship remains that would be hidden from other methods.
The project's report claims that what is believed to be the wreck of the Blessing has been located about one mile off the coast of Burntisland. The report also indicates that work to retrieve items from the wreck is imminent.
Potential Identification and Future Steps
While the ship's identity has not been definitively confirmed, core samples reportedly suggest the wreck is that of the Blessing of Burntisland. Further testing, including carbon dating of recovered timber, is planned to establish the age of the wood and confirm its construction date relative to the Blessing.
Historically, King Charles I, who witnessed the sinking from his ship, the Dreadnought, blamed the disaster on witchcraft. Nineteen women were reportedly arrested and executed in Lancashire on his orders. However, historians suggest the ship likely sank due to being overloaded with its substantial treasure, which reputedly included a 280-piece gold and silver dinner service commissioned by King Henry VIII.
Should the ship and its cargo be recovered, the Crown would be the official owner, with Burntisland Heritage acting as 'salvor in possession.' This status grants them the legal right to protect the site and entitles them to a salvage reward. Discussions regarding the potential find and its display in a new museum in Burntisland have reportedly taken place with representatives from Fife Council, Crown Estate Scotland, and the Scottish Government.