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Name: Mary Rose

Certificate number: 1951

Status:

Core Collection

Function:

Fighting Vessel

Sub Functional Area:

Warship

Type:

Carrack

Location:

Portsmouth, Hampshire, England

Current use:

Museum: indoors

  • Length Overall:

    33.65 metres (110.32 feet)

  • Current Tonnage:

    280.00

  • Draught:

    4.60 metres (15.08 feet)

  • Breadth:

    7.80 metres (25.57 feet)
Mary Rose - Mary Rose - on display

Web address

http://www.maryrose.org/

Builder

History

MARY ROSE is of outstanding significance not only because of her history, cultural and technical innovations, but also because of the contribution to the development of maritime archaeology and to the science of conservation. She was built in Portsmouth in 1509 on the orders of King Henry VIII and launched in 1511.

She took part in all three of Henry VIII's wars with France and was one of the ships in the fleet covering his journey to France to meet Francis I at the Field of the Cloth of Gold. She sank on 19 July 1545 in full view of Henry VIII during an engagement with a French invasion fleet some two kilometres from Portsmouth Harbour. Such was her importance that immediate attempts for her recovery were considered and initiated.

MARY ROSE dates from a vital period in the development of ship construction and in particular the design of a warship. She has often been called a 'revolutionary' warship both because of her carvel construction and because she was one of the first to incorporate water-tight lidded guns ports. These allowed heavy guns to be placed low down in the hull in addition to the guns on higher decks. She was finally recovered on 11 October 1982.

Dr Margaret Rule switched on a new spray system at the Mary Rose Ship Hall in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard on 27 July 2006, marking the start of the next phase of the ship's conservation. The new spray contains a thicker, more concentrated, polyethylene glycol. The Trust will be working closely with HLF over the plans for the third and final air drying phase and are in the process of applying for funding to support their vision of a highly innovative new museum.

These brief histories are compiled from details supplied by vessel owners and enthusiasts and from various reference works. National Historic Ships would be grateful for any corrections of facts or additional information for inclusion. Please contact ron.ellis@nationalhistoricships.org.uk

Subsequent developments

07/10/2008: A Sustainability Award of £2000 from the Strategic Development Fund was given for book publication. (National Historic Ships)

Previous names

Bibliography