Incredible hulks & where to find them?

Welcome to the Solent Harbours Discovery Programme Virtual Low Tide Trail around Forton Lake! On this trail, you'll discover the stories behind various vessels, who now rest amongst the mud and seaweed.

Our self-guided Low Tide Trails can be followed virtually as well as physically. If you do go for a physical walk using our trail as a guide you are responsible for your own welfare and safety. MOLA/CITiZAN cannot accept any liability for injury/damage/trespass as a result

Welcome to the Solent Harbours Discovery Programme Virtual Low Tide Trail around Forton Lake! On this trail, you'll discover the stories behind various vessels, who now rest amongst the mud, barnacles and seaweed.

Forton Lake is actually a tidal creek, meaning that the water comes and goes each day. It’s fed by sea water coming in from Portsmouth Harbour. As the tide goes out, the remains of abandoned vessels are revealed in the mud. Forton Lake is about 1km in length and 150m wide.

The collection spans over 100 years with boats dating from the 1800s through to the 1960s. Amongst the trail there are 3 wooden barges, 2 ferries, 2 lifeboats, 3 fishing vessels, 9 military vessels and 4 unclassified vessels.

The vessels are known as 'hulks' as they have been deliberately abandonned. This is different to a 'wreck' which has been lost accidentally. A collection of hulked vessels is often referred to as a 'ship graveyard'.

There were three boatyards at Forton Lake which is why there are so many hulked vessels in this area. The boatyards would have bought and sold old and damaged vessels for parts and scrap, much like a car scrapyard.

From 2006 to 2009 the Forton Lake Archaeology Project was carried out to investigate, survey and record the hulks at Forton Lake. Many members of the local community volunteered to help with the various surveys, shared their memories, and provided photographs. There were school visits, an exhibition, and an open day for visitors.

The project was run by the Nautical Archaeology Society and the Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology (now the Maritime Archaeology Trust). This trail has been based on the archaeological report they produced at the end of the project (*Beattie-Edwards and Satchell, 2011).

We hope you'll enjoy discovering the vessels at Forton Lake. Each one has a unique story which illustrates the wide-reaching influence and significance of maritime heritage in this local area and beyond. 

Please help us by rating this Virtual Low Tide Trail!

Click the link below to discover more about the hulks at Forton Lake in a blog written by CITiZAN Discovery Programme Officers Therese Kearns & Grant Bettinson.

Love coastal archaeology? Have you considered volunteering with CITiZAN?

If you’d like to get involved in recording vital archaeological data in your area, the new CITiZAN app is available to download from the App Story and Google Play. Click the links below to find out more about the app and volunteering.

Thanks for reading..we hope you enjoyed our tour of Forton Lake. Please help us by rating this Virtual Low Tide Trail!