A diving operation, led by BSAC member Riley Conway, has been launched to discover the identity of a ship that sank 100 years ago in Portsmouth's Langstone Harbour.
Believed to be the dredging vessel Withern, which sank in 1926 – the same year Portsmouth was granted city status - the wreck’s identity has never been confirmed. The site has become a source of mystery because another dredger, the Witham, sank nearby in 1912 under similar circumstances. Both vessels were lost on their moorings in the harbour.
Historical accounts suggest the mystery wreck sank overnight without crew, leaving behind unanswered questions about how and why it went down. With limited archival information currently available, the Withern Project team hopes that modern underwater survey techniques will provide long-awaited answers.
For diver Riley Conway, who began diving in 2022 and recently joined the Nautical Archaeology Society’s Sub-Aqua Club, the project also represents an opportunity to ‘apply newly acquired skills in a real-world setting’.
Riley said:
This project is about more than just a wreck. It’s about uncovering a piece of Portsmouth’s history that’s been lost for 100 years and sharing it with the community.
The Withern Project is supported by a grant from Portsmouth City Council as part of the ‘Portsmouth 100’ celebrations of the city’s centenary. Following their initial dives in April, the project team will return to continue their underwater investigations of the site later this summer.
Riley added:
As Portsmouth prepares to celebrate 100 years as a city, the Withern/Witham survey project stands as a fitting tribute to its enduring relationship with the sea – combining heritage, science, and community engagement to bring the past back to life.
The findings will be compiled into a detailed written report and shared with local stakeholders, including Portsmouth Harbour authorities.
For more information on the Nautical Archaeology Society SAC, go to nauticalarchaeologysociety.org/dive-club
