Find Spot MPM2111 - Cannon approximately 250m east of Gosport Marina, Portsmouth Harbour

Smooth bore cast iron muzzle loading cannon recovered by grab in 2017 during the Queen Elizabeth Class Capital Dredge Project in Portsmouth Harbour. Found approximately 250m east of the floating breakwater at Gosport Marina.

Smooth bore cast iron muzzle loading cannon recovered during pre-dredge clearance approximately 250m east of the floating breakwater at Gosport Marina. Possibly a 3 pounder or smaller.

The cannon was cast by the English gunfounder Thomas Western whose initials 'T' and 'W' were either side of the touch hole. This dates the cannon to between c.1660 and 1707. Western supplied guns to the Royal Navy and other countries. The cannon was marked with the broad arrow which shows that it was in military service in England. There was a Royal monogram on the second reinforce of the cannon but this was too concreted to read. It has been suggested it may be that of Queen Anne (1702-1714) which would give a date range for the casting of the gun to between 1702 and 1707 but this could not be confirmed due to the condition of the cannon. The number '743' was below the monogram which may be a Board of Ordanance number.

The cannon may have been lost or used as ballast or a mooring anchor after being taken out of service. . Probably an isolated find as no other archaeological material was recovered.

One of a number of cannon found in Portsmouth Harbour during the Queen Elizabeth Class Capital Dredge. See MPM2083, MPM2084, MPM2093 and MPM2108-MPM2109-MPM2110, MPM2112.

UID: BWL1_0080 in Queen Elizabeth Class Capital Dredge Project report.

Wessex Archaeology, 2018, Queen Elizabeth Class Capital Dredge Project Her Majesty's Naval Base, Portsmouth: Archaeological Assessment Report (Unpublished document). SPM646.