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London shipwreck cannon: Southend Museum bids to buy back weapons London shipwreck cannon: Southend Museum bids to buy back weapons
(2 days later)
A museum fears it is facing competition to buy three cannon that were recovered from a 1665 shipwreck off the Essex coast and illegally sold.A museum fears it is facing competition to buy three cannon that were recovered from a 1665 shipwreck off the Essex coast and illegally sold.
The bronze cannon, from The London, were fraudulently sold to a US collector by a British diver who was jailed for two years as a result.The bronze cannon, from The London, were fraudulently sold to a US collector by a British diver who was jailed for two years as a result.
Southend Council wants to buy them from the collector for the town's museum, which could cost £56,000.Southend Council wants to buy them from the collector for the town's museum, which could cost £56,000.
The council said there had also been interest shown from other museums.The council said there had also been interest shown from other museums.
Councillor Graham Longley, executive member for tourism, said: "The wreck is of major historical importance and the items recovered will become a key visitor attraction when they are displayed in the town.Councillor Graham Longley, executive member for tourism, said: "The wreck is of major historical importance and the items recovered will become a key visitor attraction when they are displayed in the town.
"It is essential to ensure the cannon - which are the only ones of their kind known to be in existence - remain here in Southend to become a crucial part of this exhibition.""It is essential to ensure the cannon - which are the only ones of their kind known to be in existence - remain here in Southend to become a crucial part of this exhibition."
CompensationCompensation
Vincent Woolsgrove, 48, from Ramsgate in Kent, recovered the cannon from the Thames estuary off Southend in 2008, but instead of declaring them to the authorities, he claimed he had found them in international waters away from the wreck.Vincent Woolsgrove, 48, from Ramsgate in Kent, recovered the cannon from the Thames estuary off Southend in 2008, but instead of declaring them to the authorities, he claimed he had found them in international waters away from the wreck.
He sold them for £46,000 in 2010, but an investigation was able to prove he recovered them from the wreck site.He sold them for £46,000 in 2010, but an investigation was able to prove he recovered them from the wreck site.
Southend Council said the US collector had bought them in good faith and, although he was obliged to return them to the UK under international agreements, he was entitled to reasonable compensation.Southend Council said the US collector had bought them in good faith and, although he was obliged to return them to the UK under international agreements, he was entitled to reasonable compensation.
The council's cabinet is due to meet on 22 September to decide whether to put £56,000 aside in case it cannot raise the money from other funding bodies.The council's cabinet is due to meet on 22 September to decide whether to put £56,000 aside in case it cannot raise the money from other funding bodies.
The Royal Armouries in Leeds was one museum Southend Council believed was interested in the three cannon, which were captured from a Dutch ship before being installed on The London, which was built in Chatham during Oliver Cromwell's rule. The Royal Armouries in Leeds was one museum Southend Council believed might be interested in the three cannon, which were captured from a Dutch ship before being installed on The London, which was built in Chatham during Oliver Cromwell's rule.
The Royal Armouries has yet to respond to the BBC's request for a comment. However, a spokeswoman for the Royal Armouries said: "Royal Armouries are not going to attempt to buy the three Dutch guns from the London."