Lost wreck of WW1 ship HMS Hawke found in ‘remarkable’ condition

Another piece of data was an “obstruction” on the seabed reported by Scottish fisheries in the 1980s.

The dive ship investigated the obstruction site but found nothing.

However, just a kilometre away they found a huge shipwreck.

“It took years of research but the actual time on the ground was just a few hours,” Mr Mortimer said.

He said HMS Hawke had clearly deteriorated after a century on the seabed but it was still in remarkable condition.

“Lots of the decking in still in place – teak decking,” he said.

“There is a wonderful captain’s walkway around the back of the stern. There’s loads of guns because obviously she was a warship.

“There’s lots of Royal Navy crockery. It is fascinating. She clearly was taken completely by surprise because lots of the portholes are still open.”

Mr Mortimer said the area of the sea that the ship was in does not have lots of nutrients so the wreck has not been eaten away by organisms.

He said: “You can look into the portholes and see rooms with artefacts – teacups, bowls and plates just there on the floor.

“It’s a really remarkable time capsule.”