HMS Invincible Dive Project Nets £16,400 Heritage Lottery Boost
The first dive season on the wreck of HMS Invincible in the Solent has wrapped up – and it’s already made waves. The project has landed initial funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to launch a blockbuster three-year programme, bringing the sunken warship’s story from seabed to shore – and beyond.
£425k Ambition for Iconic 18th Century Warship
Thanks to National Lottery players, ‘Diving Deep – The HMS Invincible 1744’ will partner with The Maritime Archaeology Sea Trust, The National Museum of the Royal Navy, and Bournemouth University. The aim? To dig deep, record, conserve, and showcase the wreck of the Invincible, sunk in 1758.
The HLF awarded £16,400 in development funding to kickstart plans for a full £425,900 grant. HMS Invincible, launched by the French in 1744 and captured by the British in 1747, was no ordinary ship. Her revolutionary 74-gun design set a global standard and became the backbone of the Royal Navy right through the age of sail.
Volunteers, Exhibitions, and Digital Thrills Across Three Hubs
- The programme will run at the National Museum in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Bournemouth’s shore base, and The Historic Dockyard Chatham.
- It includes a call for 25 volunteers, plus a strong digital arm to reach far beyond the coast.
- Major exhibitions are planned for Chatham and Portsmouth, with permanent displays set for the National Museum’s Centre for Discovery, opening in 2020.
Experts Excited About Bringing Invincible’s Story to Life
“The dive on the wreck has really captured the imagination this season,” said Professor Dominic Tweddle, Director General of The National Museum of the Royal Navy. “We have a handful of artefacts on show already, and can’t wait to preserve and display as many as 500 more.”
Jessica Berry, CEO of MAST, added: “Invincible’s remains are the most complete and best preserved warship from the mid-18th century. The site reveals priceless clues about French and British ship design, technology and life at sea.”
Richard Holdsworth, Director at The Historic Dockyard Chatham, said: “We’re proud to be part of this. We hold a key collection from Invincible’s 1980s excavations, many on display here. This project offers a deeper dive into 18th-century naval life and improves access to these historic treasures.”
Stuart McLeod, Head of HLF South East, said: “This is a thrilling chapter for UK maritime heritage. National Lottery players can be proud to help share the Invincible’s incredible story through events, volunteering, digital content, and exhibitions.”
