Dawn Perrier

Mary Rose - Flagship of Henry VIII’s Naval Fleet

The Mary Rose was the flagship of Henry VIII’s naval fleet; on the 19th July 1545 in a battle with the French Armada just outside Portsmouth Harbour, the Mary Rose sank suddenly with 700 men on board. Apart from a few attempts to explore the wreck in the 1800s, it remained untouched for nearly 500 years when in 1979 to 1982, a team of divers and marine archaeologists from the newly formed Mary Rose Trust embarked on a project to excavate the contents of the ship and bring to the surface the remains of the hull of the Mary Rose.

Presentation by Mary Rose Diver Dawn Perrier Baker

Presentations and talks on the fascinating history, excavation, and restoration of the Mary Rose Tudor Warship by Dawn Perrier Baker, member of the original professional dive team

Due to Covid-19 Restrictions - Online talks are now available – find our more

The sinking of the Mary Rose has never been fully explained, although many believe that the ship was so crowded on the day that she was difficult to sail and became unstable whilst attempting to turn. Whatever the cause, this tragedy remained one of the legendary events in Britain’s rich maritime History.

Lying on her side for next 436 years in the muddy waters off the coast of Portsmouth, sealed in time as a microcosm of Tudor life, waiting for it secrets to be unlocked.