Wreck site of 17th century English fireship, Star, off Lower Hope (EHER 82694)

1667 wreck of English fireship which was expended and burnt off Lower Hope during the attack on the Hope, also known as the attack on Tilbury in the penultimate action of the Second Anglo-Dutch War (1665-1667) on 23 July 1667. This action was notable for being entirely fought with fireships on both sides, led on the English side by Sir Edward Spragge, and on the Dutch by Aert Jansz. van Nes. It is not known at which stage of the action the STAR was expended, but, for convenience, and in order not to artificially inflate the numbers of wrecks in the action by treating them separately, it is assumed that she was the third English fireship expended: ' . . . this past, a Fireship of ours bore up to another of the Dutch, but fired too soon; but upon the apprehension of her approach, the enemy also fired theirs, the men on both sides getting off in their Long Boats. Constructed of wood, the STAR was a sailing vessel.

Information from NRHE 'Whitehall, July 24: On Saturday and Sunday last severall ships came in to the Dutch fleet riding before Harwich, supposed to be Victuallers. The 22. they all weighed from the Sledway, and stood into the Gunfleet, sayling for the Buoy in the Nore; and between 3 and 4 that afternoon were discovered plying with all the sayl they were able for the Thames. Only 17 of them (of the lesser sort) were observed standing from the Fleet towards the Downs, who were afterwards followed by three larger ships. The 23, between 6 and 7 in the Morning, the SUCCESS and CYGNET discovering the Enemy off the Mouth of the River, retired; and by their frequent discharges, gave notice of their approach. About 9 of the clock about 24 or 25 sail of them began to appear in Tilbury-Hope, eight of them advancing as far as Hull-Haven. 'About 11 or 12 the SUCCESS, being then with 18 other of his Majestie's Men of War and Fireships in the Hope, exchanged several guns with the headmost of the Enemy; when their first squadron of 8 ships coming to an anchor within shot, a sharp fight began between them . . . this past, a Fireship of ours bore up to another of the Dutch, but fired too soon; but upon the apprehension of her approach, the Enemy also fired theirs, the men on both sides getting off in their Long Boats.' <1> Compiler's comments For convenience, and in order not to artificially inflate the numbers of wrecks involved by treating them separately, it has here been assumed that the STAR was the third English ship expended in this action, but this is not necessarily conclusive or definitive. <2> Following their successful raid on the Medway, a Dutch squadron . . . blockaded the Thames. To counter them, a force of fireships under Sir Joseph Jordan and Sir Edward Spragge was assembled at Harwich and in the Hope respectively. On 23-JUL the Dutch attacked the squadron assembled off Tilbury, both sides expending fireships. <3> This fireship, a purchased vessel of 1667, was employed in the Thames in the action against the Dutch squadron off Tilbury, the same battle in which the ALBEMARLE and CAMEL fireships were expended, but to what effect is not recorded. NB: there is a possibility that this fireship's name was spelt STARR. <4> Name given as STARR. Fireship of 4 guns, 121 tons BM. Purchased and expended 1667. <5> Star was purchased: 1667. Its armament was 4 x cannon. Its commanding officer was Captain Hugh Ridley RN. The owner was the Royal Navy <3> - <6> Date of Loss Qualifier: Actual date of loss