Ship Discovery
Ship Discovery

Discovery

The extensive remains of a substantial medieval sailing ship were discovered during the construction of the Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre, on the right bank of the river Usk in Newport, south Wales in late June 2002.

Newport City Council and the Welsh Assembly Government recognised the significance of the vessel and identified funding to excavate and conserve the ship.

The vessel was dismantled and raised, piece by piece, over a period of twelve weeks between August and November 2002.

The Newport ship is the most complete example of a fifteenth century clinker-built merchant vessel ever found in the United Kingdom.

The ship appears to be constructed in the Northern European ‘keel first’ shell-based tradition, in contrast to the cog and hulk traditions.