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.

Through scientific analysis and historical research, experts confirmed the wreck as the Earl of Chatham, a former Royal Navy frigate that later served as a whaling vessel. The ship, which played a role in the Revolutionary War and the siege of Quebec, was uncovered in the dunes of Sanday island. The find highlights the value of community involvement and modern archaeology in uncovering maritime history.

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