La Trinidad Valencera Wreck

Field Value
La trinidad valencera Wreck Location
Marine Coordinates (DMM) 		55 15.674 N,7 0.458 W
Latitude, Longitude
Decimal Degrees
  • Latitude: 55.261240
  • Longitude: -7.007640
Name LA TRINIDAD VALENCERA
Type sailing vessel
Date Sunk Sep 16, 1588
Original Source Atherton 2013; Fallon 1978; Flanagan, L., 1988; Kelleher 2011, 123-129; Martin 1975; Martin 1979, 12-38; Martin 1989, 61-69; Martin 1994, 207-17; Mattingly 1959
WRECK MAP LOADING ... 55 15.674 N,7 0.458 W
La Trinidad Valencera on Wreck Map La Trinidad Valencera Wreck on Google Map
Wreck No: W07691, Place of Loss: Mossy Glen, Kinnagoe Bay, Inishowen Peninsula, Source of Coordinate: National Monuments Service, Description: The fourth largest of the ships that made up the Spanish Armada, this requisitioned Venetian merchantman of 1,100 tons was lost in Kinnagoe Bay off the northern tip of the Inishowen Peninsula in September 1588. The wreck lies in shallow water approximately 100m offshore on the western extent of Kinnagoe Bay. Two rivers, Glenagivney River and the Long Glen River, flush fresh water into the Bay area through deep gullies that run down the slopes, one through the locally known Black Glen into Glenagivney Bay (almost centrally placed within Kinnagoe Bay) and the other into the area known as Kinnagoe Port, within the north-western limits of the Bay. The seabed here is soft sand with rock outcrops and the white strand of the southern limits of Kinnagoe act as an interface between land and sea. Discovered in 1971 by City of Derry Sub Aqua Club, through the identification of one of La Trinidad Valencera’s great siege guns, a bronze cannon de batir with the inscription of ‘PHILIPPUS REX’ and the inscription of its maker, the royal gunfounder IOANES. MĀRICUS A,. LARA. FIERI. CURAVIT / OPUS. REMIGY. DE. HALUT / ANNO 1556. This allowed a positive identification to be made for the wreck being that of La Trinidad. Over the next 15 years the members of the dive club assisted underwater archaeologist Dr Colin Martin and his wife Paula Martin in the excavation of the wreck. The results of this work has been widely published by Dr Martin, indicating that not only is the wreck itself significant but the wealth of artefactual material recovered both from the site itself and extensive and significant artefactual finds make La Trinidad Valencera the richest of the Armada wrecks discovered to date. In 2004 following reports from Inishowen Sub Aqua Club that more material was exposed on the seabed at the site, the Underwater Archaeology Unit of the National Monuments Service carried out detailed survey and limited excavation at the site of what was believed to be an iron cannon. This resulted in the identification of a previously unrecorded broken up gun carriage, several siege carriage wheels and limbers and smaller artefacts including Iberian wares. The main body of artefactual material recovered by Dr Martin is housed in the Tower Museum in Derry, while a large, ornate siege cannon is also on display in the National Museum of Ireland.

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FAQ

Where is the LA TRINIDAD VALENCERA wreck located?

The LA TRINIDAD VALENCERA wreck is located at coordinates 55 15.674 N,7 0.458 W.

When did the LA TRINIDAD VALENCERA sink?

The LA TRINIDAD VALENCERA sank on Sep 16, 1588.

What type of wreck is the LA TRINIDAD VALENCERA?

The LA TRINIDAD VALENCERA is classified as a sailing vessel.

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