Before the Mast: Life and Death Aboard the Mary Rose

The Mary Rose was a Tudor warship that sank in 1545 with a crew of over 500 men. Excavation of the hull and contents have produced a collection of objects that provide a detailed picture of life on board, including religious items, books, fishing lines, sewing kits, money, hair combs, jewelry, knives, musical instruments, and clothing. The Barber-surgeon had a fine chest filled with canisters, bottles, and pots of ointment and medicines, surgical instruments, and razors. The ship's carpenters had a toolkit including planes, adzes, axes, hammers, drills, pitch pots, and special mallets for patching up leaks in the ship's hull. The ship's navigators had the best compasses in the sixteenth century. The ship's galley was in the hold and produced many examples of wooden and pewter plates, bowls, pots, bread troughs, and tankards, as well as barrels and baskets still containing beef, pork, fish, and fruit.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 760 pages
Publication date: 05 February 2021
Publisher: Oxbow Books

The Mary Rose was a remarkable vessel that carried a diverse crew of naval officers and sailors, a formidable fighting force of gunners and soldiers, a skilled Barber-surgeon, numerous ship's carpenters, and seasoned navigators. Out of a total of nearly 500 men, only a mere 40 survived the tragic sinking on July 19, 1545. Trapped by netting or confined below deck, their chances of survival were slim, resulting in the loss of their bodies and belongings to the depths of the sea. The extensive excavation of the hull and its contents has yielded a vast collection of artifacts that paint a vivid picture of life on board.

Before the Mast delves into the daily lives of the men of the Mary Rose, shedding light on their possessions, diet, entertainment, medical care, working practices, and personal items. The crew's personal belongings encompassed a wide range of items, including religious artifacts, books, fishing gear, sewing kits, money, hair combs, jewelry, knives, musical instruments, and various pieces of clothing. The Barber-surgeon, housed in his own cabin, carried a comprehensive chest filled with ointments, medicines, surgical instruments, and a fine set of razors. Nearby, the ship's carpenters had a toolkit consisting of planes, adzes, axes, hammers, drills, pitch pots, and specialized mallets for repairing leaks in the ship's hull. The navigators aboard the Mary Rose possessed the most advanced compasses of the sixteenth century.

The ship's galley was located in the hold, and this area was particularly noteworthy for its abundance of wooden and pewter plates, bowls, pots, bread troughs, and tankards. Additionally, barrels and baskets still contained a variety of foods, including beef, pork, fish, and fruit. The volume also includes an analysis of the human remains, providing valuable evidence regarding the stature and age of the individuals who perished during the sinking.

The Mary Rose's story serves as a poignant reminder of the risks and hardships faced by sailors in the past. The artifacts recovered from the ship provide a unique glimpse into the lives of these brave men and their remarkable journey. Through the meticulous excavation and analysis of the hull and contents, we can gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and experiences of life at sea during the sixteenth century.

Weight: 2920g
Dimension: 214 x 303 x 42 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789256352