AS PART of the Agincourt 600 project, a local series of events to commemorate Henry V’s success at the Battle of Agincourt, Dr Craig Lambert, lecturer in Maritime History at Southampton University, will be giving a talk about Harry’s Ships: The Grace Dieu at the society’s next meeting.

The Hamble River was used by Henry V’s ships, as Southampton was the main centre for the royal fleet from where in 1415 they sailed to France for the Agincourt campaign. In 1417, 12 royal ships spent the winter anchored at Hamble protected by 40 archers.

In 1418 the Grace Dieu, the largest ship ever built in England at that time, was brought to Hamble for fitting out.

Her Southampton builder, William Soper, had two storehouses in Hamble and had erected a wooden tower at the river entrance for protection against French raids. The Grace Dieu was older and bigger than the Mary Rose.

The wreck of the Grace Dieu lies in the river mud to this day and is a nationally protected wreck. As part of Agincourt 600 project Southampton University will be undertaking a further archaeological dig on her remains this year and will produce a website and information boards about her and the findings.

This talk will be particularly topical, due to the recent news of the possible discovery of one of Henry V’s other ships, the Holigost, at the top of the Hamble River. Craig will be mentioning the Holigost and other Henry V’s ships.

The meeting will be held at the Roy Underdown Pavilion and the fee is £2. For details call the secretary, Brian Knapp, telephone 8045 3534.