Historic Shipwreck Artifacts Set for Auction

Hundreds of items recovered from shipwrecks, including cannons, crockery, and other valuable objects, are scheduled for auction. These artifacts, which range in age from the 16th Century to more recent wrecks, were previously part of the collection at the Shipwreck Treasure Museum located in Charlestown, Cornwall. Sir Tim Smit, widely recognized for establishing the Eden Project, acquired the museum 10 years ago but has now decided to sell both its collection and the property. He explained, “It’s a good little business, but it doesn’t make enough surplus to turn it into the great museum it could be, so we put it up for sale because we know it will all go to very good homes.” Sir Tim shared, “I used to be a wreck diver and this was the first place I visited in Cornwall.” He added, “When it came up for sale, I bought it on a whim.” Prior to the upcoming auction, the Maritime Archaeology Sea Trust purchased 500 of the most historically significant items. There are 700 remaining lots that will go under the hammer on Wednesday and Thursday. The buildings themselves are slated for sale at a later date. Stay connected with BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook, and Instagram. Submit your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC holds no responsibility for the content of external sites. Learn about our approach to external linking.