In 1415, Henry V renewed the war with France with the aspiration to match the French fleet and be prepared for naval battles at a moment’s notice. As a result, he ordered the construction of the largest warships built in England, including the Grace Dieu. Though the Mary Rose holds its own as Henry VIII’s flagship, carrying up to 500 men and housing heavy anti-ship guns, the Grace Dieu, despite being over 90 years older, was a 1,000-tonne ship. The Mary Rose was only 700.
Successfully built as an example of English military strength, it is believed to have been almost 40 metres in length and 15 metres in breadth. Both Henry V and Henry VIII spent much of the royal budget on building such ships. In 1418, the Grace Dieu cost an estimated £3,800, equivalent to around £1.6 million today; a small price to pay for the glory of beating the French! However, the great ship never had the chance to face the French in battle, leading to a very different path than the Mary Rose.
The Mary Rose was in service for over 30 years, forming a vital part of Henry VIII’s naval campaigns and reputation. In contrast the Grace Dieu almost immediately faced a mutiny on board during its first expedition in 1420, sailing only as far as the Isle of Wight. One theory suggests the ship was difficult to sail and there were too few crew members, triggering discontent about conditions and workload.
England’s naval reputation diminished quickly once the war against France was won, and the fleet dispersed. The Grace Dieu was laid up in reserve, not far from Portsmouth on the River Hamble, after its disastrous first voyage. However, it was not immediately forgotten, a crew of eight was tasked with maintaining the ship in its dock and in 1430 the Grace Dieu hosted a Florentine captain and his sailors, showing off its impressive build.
A lightning strike and subsequent fire in 1439 left the remains of the once impressive example of 15th century naval power, to be buried in the mud – becoming a mere outline of planks and timber. Local rumour did offer a more sinister version of the story; as the Grace Dieu was manned with an eight-person crew during its berth, it was suggested that the ship keeper had quietly sold off pieces of the ship. The fire may have been purposely set to cover up his actions, as local folklore this has never been proven, and the Grace Dieu was kept safely in the Hamble River for many years before the disaster.
Examples of medieval and Tudor ships are limited, many were used for parts or sold off following their time in service. The sinking of the Mary Rose and its unique home on the seabed has resulted in the rare quality of preservation. The Grace Dieu, though similarly buried in silt, was not fully excavated and recovered. Like the Mary Rose it is now a protected wreck under the Protection of Wrecks Act (1973). Interestingly, in 2015, another shipwreck, the Holigost (1415) was found a short distance away from the Grace Dieu. The protected wreck border was extended to incorporate this vessel.
The Grace Dieu is only visible on certain low tides in its final mud berth. Research found that the ship was predominantly made from wood from the nearby New Forest and was clinker built, with three layers of overlapping boards. When originally uncovered in the Victorian era, it was believed to be a Viking ship, as this was the traditional Viking ship design. It wasn’t until the 1930s that the wreck was identified as the Grace Dieu through the work and research of Dr R.C. Anderson and Mr F.C. Prideaux. In 1970 the University of Southampton bought the wreck site for £5. The remnants of this once great ship can be seen from the shores of the River Hamble.
The Grace Dieu marked an early example of the English king’s move into naval superiority, and the Mary Rose provides a historic continuation of what this royal competition could create.
