HMS Ontario shipwreck found after 228 years

HMS Ontario, a 22-gun sloop of war sank in Lake Ontario during a gale on 31 October 1780 with the loss of the 130 souls on board. The wreck has now been discovered in the Great Lakes, North America, and is said to be an archaeological miracle as the oldest confirmed shipwreck and only fully-intact British warship to have been found in the lakes. The ship is still the property of the British Admiralty and is being treated as a war grave.

http://www.shipwreckworld.com/story/shipwreck-explorers-discover-1780-british-warship-in-lake-ontario.aspx

Shipwreck world have now added some pictures to the site


There are more pictures available at the link in the post above.

Certainly looks like the ship is very well preserved

There is now an underwater video

What an amazing piece of film; I found watching it quite moving. Museums and restorations are great, but this is a true snap shot of the time; one that was never meant to last.

But then I have always felt that ephemera has a special value; a Lloyd's sword would have been made with the future in mind, but a boarding cutlass was a tool, and has more of the period in it. Likewise I feel newsheets of the time (surprisingly cheap and easy to get hold of), give a different, and more authentic insight than a carefully worded report that was written with historians in mind.

Thanks for this, Astrodene; you have made my day.

By the way, did you know there was a National Lottery during the Revolutionary war? I discovered that in an old newspaper - top prize £6,000 - and a house could be purchased for £60!

For those who want to know more about the background there is an article here which also has links to a book that can be purchased about the ship.

Wow, and in such great condition as well.