Schoolboy's Discovery Unveils 250-Year-Old Royal Navy Shipwreck on Scottish Beach

A schoolboy's chance discovery of wooden ship timbers on a remote Orkney beach has led to the identification of a 250-year-old shipwreck.

Archaeologists and local researchers determined the wreck is the Earl of Chatham, a former Royal Navy frigate that later served as a whaling vessel. The ship played a role in the Revolutionary War era, including the siege of Quebec, before meeting its end off the coast of Sanday. The find highlights the power of community involvement and scientific analysis in uncovering maritime history.

The wreck is now being preserved and studied, offering new insights into 18th-century naval and whaling life.