Information boards tell public of world-famous shipwreck

County, Rother and Hastings councillors joined representatives of other organisations at an unveiling ceremony last Friday.

Visitors including Town Mayor Cllr Patrick Douart went to Bulverhythe near the site where the Amsterdam foundered in a gale in 1748 on its maiden voyage.

The wreck itself can be visited at exceptionally low tides.

Peter Marsden, an authority on the wreck and author of a book detailing the Amsterdam's story, put the wreck site in context with other local points of interest.

Cllr Forster, who represents both St Michael's Ward on Rother and Bexhill East Division on East Sussex County Council said: "Peter Marsden really enthused and amused his audience with tales of long ago to bring the historic relics on the beach to life.

"Former Rother head of planning, Frank Rallings, who is an advisor to the Steering Group for Pebsham Countryside Park Project, commented on how many different organisations were represented in what was a very pleasing turnout."

Cllr Forster's shots including a photo of East Sussex County Council chairman, Cllr Bob Lacey, playfully balancing on a 4,000 year old log, part of the prehistoric forest preserved in the wet sand and mud near the 'Amsterdam'.

The panel of three information boards guiding visitors to the shore at Bulverhythe describe the Amsterdam as probably the best-preserved wreck of an East India Company ship in the world; explain the preserved forest dating back to 2000BC; and the dinosaur footprints and bones which may be found at low tide, dating from about 135 million years ago.

More detailed information is available from the Shipwreck and Coastal Heritage Centre, Hastings: (01424) 437452 and www.shipwreck-heritage.org.uk