The DRAKE CANNON
The cannon from the Duart wreck - the ship we now believe to
be the 'Swan' - was unveiled at the National Museum in Edinburgh on Jan 10th
following its restoration.
The 415lb iron cannon is one of several items retrieved from
the wreck by the underwater archaeology unit from St. Andrew's University, led
by Dr Colin Martin.
photo by courtesy of Murdo
Macleod
The 'Swan' was built in 1641 for Charles 1, but was later
captured by Cromwellians in Dublin. It was part of a small flotilla sent in
1653 to admonish the Macleans, who were staunch Royalists. The clan had
decamped to the island fortress of Karnaburg, so the castle was empty. While
the 1000 strong force wondered what to do, they were hit by a violent storm
that lasted for 16 to 18 hours. Three of the ships sank - one of them the
'Swan'. Several hundred years later, the wreckage was discovered by one John
Dadd who was searching for a lobster for his supper! Subsequently, the wreck
has been explored, and excavated, by a team from St. Andrew's University, with
funding from Historic Scotland, and the National Museums of Scotland.
The cannon turns out to be a very rare find. Following the restoration -
the gun was encrusted and rusted when found - the mark of John Browne, the
royal gunfounder, was discovered. The bore of the cannon is tapered at the end,
and could therefore be made much lighter than previously. This enabled ships to
carry more guns, and allowed the guns to have a greater range. It is thought to
be the only one in existence, and will shortly be on view at the National
Museums of Scotland.