Rare 200-Year-Old Sweater Unearthed from Shipwreck by National Archives
In a remarkable discovery, archivists at the National Archives in the United Kingdom have uncovered a 200-year-old sweater from a shipwreck. The red hand-knit sweater, which appears to be in pristine condition, was found among other items in parcels from the Anne-Marie cargo ship. The ship, seized by the British Navy during the Second Battle of Copenhagen, had been lying untouched for centuries.
“This is a rare example of a parcel surviving in the Prize Papers, which often contain letters consigned to ships for delivery by sea,” said Dr. Amanda Bevan of the National Archives. The archivists were astonished by the sweater’s excellent condition, as if it had been purchased just yesterday.
The sweater was shipped from the Faroe Islands by a carpenter named Niels C. Winther. Accompanying the sweater was a letter from Winther to the fiancé of Mr. P Ladsen in Copenhagen. In the letter, Winther expressed his wife’s regards and thanked Ladsen for the pudding rice. He also mentioned that his wife had knitted the sweater for Ladsen’s fiancé, hoping that she would find it pleasing. The letter, written in Danish, provides a glimpse into the personal connections and exchanges that took place during that time.
The cargo ship, on its journey from the Faroe Islands through Denmark, was intercepted by the HMS Defence off the coast of Norway on September 2, 1807. Both the cargo and the ship’s mailbox were seized. The archivists at the National Archives plan to digitize the letters and contents of the parcels, preserving these historical artifacts for future generations.
The discovery of this rare sweater adds to the growing list of remarkable finds from shipwrecks. Just last month, divers exploring the British HMS Erebus wreck off the coast of Canada stumbled upon a treasure trove of artifacts, including pistols, coins, and even an intact thermometer. Similarly, last year, divers discovered a Dutch warship off the coast of southern England, carrying a cargo of marble tiles for high-status homes.
The uncovering of these lost relics provides us with a unique window into the past, shedding light on the lives and experiences of those who lived centuries ago. The National Archives’ dedication to preserving and sharing these historical treasures ensures that their stories will continue to captivate and inspire generations to come.
Reporting contributed by Stephen Smith.
