Captain H. E. Anderson climbing down a ladder from the salvage ship Greencastle (1884) to dive on the wreck of the 64-gun Third Rate HMS Anson (1781).

A view on board the salvage vessel Greencastle (1884), looking aft from the port side at Captain H. E. Anderson in a diving suit going down the ladder over the side into the water. A man is leaning over the side holding the breathing pipe. People, including a woman, are watching on deck.

The 64-gun Third Rate HMS Anson (1781) was wrecked in December 1807 and subsequently rediscovered by Captain H. E. Anderson, the chief officer of the West of England Salvage Company. A negotiated deal between him and the Admiralty allowed him to buy the wreck to undertake salvage work. The first items recovered were some of the guns, the first being on 14 April 1903.

Object Details

ID: G14425
Collection: Historic Photographs
Type: Glass plate negative
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Gibson & Sons of Scilly
Date made: 14 April 1903
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Gibson's of Scilly Shipwreck Collection
Measurements: Overall: 6 1/2 in x 8 1/2 in