‘HOLIGOST’ FOUND? Henry V warship possibly buried under England river

Able to carry a maximum of 760 tons, she could be crewed by between 99 and 199 sailors, and was also used to carry large numbers of soldiers to war.

The Holy Ghost joined the royal fleet in November, 1415, and fought in two major sea battles during the Hundred Years War – the Battle of Harfleur (1416) and the Battle of Chef de Caux (1417).

The finding was announced today by Historic England, after it was spotted in an aerial photograph by British maritime historian, Dr Ian Friel.

Dr Friel said: “I am utterly delighted that Historic England is assessing the site for protection and undertaking further study”.

The 600-year-old ship was found just next to the Grace Dieu, the very own flagship of Henry V, which was discovered by a historian in the 1930s.

Duncan Wilson, Historic England chief executive, said: ‘The Battle of Agincourt is one of those historic events that has acquired huge national significance.

Friel told The Guardian that “the Holigost was never as spectacular as the Grace Dieu, but in a few ways it is more important – an identifiable medieval ship, that fought in known engagements, would be an incredibly rare thing to find anywhere in the world”.

The ship was repaired in 1423 by using a diver named Davy Owen in possibly the first-ever recorded example of an underwater ship repairs being done by a diver in England.

The Holigost, one of the “great ships” that comprised Henry V’s war fleet, could be buried under the mud in River Hamble near Southampton. To investigate a ship from this period close to the 600th anniversary is immensely exciting.

‘It holds the possibility of fascinating revelations in the months and years to come.

The motto for the ship was “une sanz pluis”, which translates as “one and no more” – a clear indication that Henry V believed the King alone should be master.

The ship’s name comes from Henry’s personally devotion to the Holy Trinity and was originally rebuilt from a Spanish vessel called the Santa Clara that was captured in late 1413 and acquired by the English Crown.

Historic England, the Government’s historic environment agency, is now planning to carry out a detailed survey of the ship.