It was consigned to its watery grave hundreds of years ago, but now state-of-the-art underwater cameras could reveal a lost city off the north Suffolk coast for the first time.
Sixteen major structures, including churches, chapels and monasteries, are believed to be located at the underwater site at Dunwich and now two experts are hoping to produce images for public display.
Suffolk-based marine archaeologist Stuart Bacon and Professor David Sear, of the University of Southampton, will team up for the groundbreaking expedition in June.
Mr Bacon, who has worked at the site for 30 years, said: “We are hoping that we will find something good and it is something that I have wanted to do for years.
“I have teamed up with Professor Sear and we are doing a thorough investigation of the medieval site, which means using some of the latest equipment, such as multi-scan sonar as well as echo sounders and GPS.”
Dunwich was the capital of East Anglia 1,500 years ago, with records showing the existence of at least 21 churches, chapels and hospitals.
It was a bustling, wealthy seaport, but its decline began in 1286 when a surge hit the East Anglian coast and by 1342, 400 houses had been lost to the sea. The erosion continued and by 1585, half of the medieval town had been engulfed by the sea.
Mr Bacon, director of the Orford-based Suffolk Underwater Studies, has dived at the site about 1,000 times and said that high silt levels in the water means that visibility is only a few centimetres.
“We have got some idea of what Dunwich was like because of ancient maps. It is of great importance both historically and archeologically.
“The work done on land ends where the water starts because it is very difficult to get information from underwater, especially at Dunwich because it is nearly always black.
“Modern technology enables us to take this step in doing a complete survey.”
The expedition will build up a picture of the ancient sunken city which lies between 10ft and 50ft down. It will cost £25,000, of which £20,000 has been raised through a donation from the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation.
Mr Bacon and Professor Sear hope to begin exploring the seabed in June and maps and images of the lost city will be exhibited at Dunwich museum.
(Original headline: Dunwich secrets to be revealed )
