Remarkable artefacts recovered from a 17th century shipwreck dubbed Norfolk's Mary Rose have gone on display to the public for the first time.

The blockbuster exhibition, featuring objects from the Gloucester - a warship that sank off the county's coast in 1682 - opens at Norwich Castle this weekend.

The wreck of the ship - which had a future king on board when it foundered - was discovered by a small group of Norfolk divers but their find was kept secret for several years.

Visitors can now see objects which lay hidden beneath the waves for centuries, including beautifully-designed wine bottles, a urine flask, spoons, the mouthpiece of a brass trumpet, parts of a woman's shoe, combs, clay pipes, a leather pouch and the ship's bell.

WATCH: Divers explore The Gloucester shipwreck

The show - the Last Voyage of the Gloucester: Norfolk’s Royal Shipwreck, 1682 - opens on Saturday and runs until September.

Norwich Evening News: Spoons recovered from the wreck of the Gloucester. Pic: Denise BradleySpoons recovered from the wreck of the Gloucester. Pic: Denise Bradley (Image: Denise Bradley)

 

 

A royal shipwreck and two diving brothers

The Gloucester was carrying James Stuart, the future King of England and Scotland, when it went down after striking a Norfolk sandbank on May 6, 1682, on its way to Edinburgh.

The royal passenger was saved, but as many as 250 people drowned.

Norwich Evening News: The Wreck of the Gloucester off Great Yarmouth, 6 May 1682, by Johan Danckerts, 1682. The ship carried the future King of England. Pic: Wikimedia CommonsThe Wreck of the Gloucester off Great Yarmouth, 6 May 1682, by Johan Danckerts, 1682. The ship carried the future King of England. Pic: Wikimedia Commons (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

After lying on the seabed for 325 years, the ship was discovered in 2007 by Norfolk brothers Julian and Lincoln Barnwell and their friend James Little.

Norwich Evening News: A glass wine bottle with a 'sun in splendour' seal and barnacles from the royal shipwreck the Gloucester. Pic: Denise BradleyA glass wine bottle with a 'sun in splendour' seal and barnacles from the royal shipwreck the Gloucester. Pic: Denise Bradley (Image: Denise Bradley)

The find, only announced last year, has been described as the most important British maritime discovery since the Mary Rose.

And the Barnwell brothers said the exhibition does full justice to the ship's amazing story.

Norwich Evening News: The Barnwell brothers, who discovered the wreck of the Gloucester off the coast of Great Yarmouth. Pic: Denise BradleyThe Barnwell brothers, who discovered the wreck of the Gloucester off the coast of Great Yarmouth. Pic: Denise Bradley (Image: Denise Bradley)

Julian Barnwell said: "I have been feeling emotional about this all week. We had a sneak preview of the exhibition and I could not believe what I was seeing. I knew it would be good, but this is on another level. The attention to detail is fantastic."

Lincoln Barnwell added: "This has been part of our lives for so long. It was 2003 when we started the search to find it and it was in 2012, when we found the bell, that we were able to identify it as the Gloucester.

"What I am really enjoying is all the spin-offs coming out of it - all the stories which surround the artefacts and everything people can learn from that."

Norwich Evening News: The exhibition runs at Norwich Castle Museum until September. Pic: Denise BradleyThe exhibition runs at Norwich Castle Museum until September. Pic: Denise Bradley (Image: Denise Bradley)

University of East Anglia maritime history experts Prof Claire Jowitt and Dr Benjamin Redding helped research the finds, with the exhibition co-curated by Ruth Battersby Tooke and Dr Francesca Vanke, of the Norfolk Museums Service

Prof Jowitt said it had been an "absolute privilege" to contribute to telling the story of the ship.

She said: "We truly believe this is Norfolk's Mary Rose and an important part of our island's story."

 

 

Norwich Evening News: Items found in wooden chests at the Gloucester shipwreck exhibition, at Norwich Castle Museum. Pic: Denise BradleyItems found in wooden chests at the Gloucester shipwreck exhibition, at Norwich Castle Museum. Pic: Denise Bradley (Image: Denise Bradley)

What does the future hold?

The brothers hope a permanent museum showcasing the Gloucester artefacts can be created in Norfolk.

The Gloucester 1682 Trust, chaired by General Lord Dannatt, the former head of the British Army, will be fundraising to make that happen, with Great Yarmouth mooted as a possible site.

Norwich Evening News: General the Lord Dannatt. Pic: NewsquestGeneral the Lord Dannatt. Pic: Newsquest (Image: UEA)

Meanwhile, the Barnwell brothers are continuing to investigate the wreck site, working with archaeologists from the Maritime Archaeology Trust to make excavations.

Up until now only objects which had been exposed by tidal streams have been recovered.

While raising the ship itself - which is split down the keel, with the hull's remains submerged in sand - is unlikely due to its fragile condition, there are hopes some sections could be brought up.

Given it would have been fitted out before its final, fateful trip, there is the possibility that ornate, possibly gold-leafed, woodwork could be recovered.

Tickets to the exhibition are free with museum admission, but it is recommended to book in advance.