GM639

Wrecking site of the Ann Francis  

 

Interim Protection  

Neath Port Talbot  

Margam Moors  

 

 

Commercial  

Wreck  

Post Medieval  

The monument comprises the wrecking location and remains of a Tudor period ship, known as the Ann Francis. Contemporary historical sources state that the ship of approximately 80 tons was owned by Francis Shaxton, a King’s Lynn-based merchant in Norfolk and left for Spain on 2 October 1583 carrying 50 tons of wheat. Further historical sources documented the aftermath of the wreck event on the return journey at the mouth of the River Afan, Margam Sands on 28 December 1583, naming George Williams (agent for the 2nd Earl of Pembroke) and Anthony Mansel (brother of Sir Edward Mansel of Margam) as being the first people of authority to attend the wreck. An inventory of salvaged materials included vessel rigging, ordnance, stores, personal possessions and spices. An anchor from the vessel is preserved in-situ at the low tide mark. Other artefacts from the ship, comprising coins, personal belongings and items of ship equipment have been found on the foreshore. The wreck is one of seventeen documented shipwreck losses on Margam and Kenfig Sands. The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of Tudor trade, shipping, ship building and technological development. The wreck site is the only confirmed location of a ship from the reign of Queen Elizabeth I in Wales and extremely rare in a wider UK Tudor context. The vessel was built at a time when construction practices for larger ocean-going merchant ships were undergoing significant technological change from clinker to carvel construction and the remains of this vessel could provide important information about this process. Surviving historical documentation provides evidence for the vessel’s final voyage to and from Spain and describes the subsequent post-wrecking salvage and legal proceedings. The wrecking site has produced well-preserved artefacts of national importance and is of high archaeological value. The monument retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of further artefactual evidence and high potential for associated archaeological remains of the ship’s hull and other contents, relating to the operation of the vessel and its chronology, building techniques and naval architectural detail. The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive. Area ‘A’ is circular in shape. It measures 600m in diameter and is centred on OS NGR SS 76334 86052. Area ‘B’ is rectangular in shape. It is centred on OS NGR SS 76616 85600 and measures 300m in length ENE-WSW by 230m transversely. This monument has been afforded Interim Protection under Section 6 of the Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023. It is an offence to damage this monument and you may be prosecuted. To find out more about Interim Protection, please visit the statutory notices page on the Cadw website. For further information about this monument, or to report any damage please contact Cadw.