Sir, Regarding my proposal that the remains of Henry V’s Holigost may lie at Bursledon on the River Hamble, Dr Susan Rose (letter, Oct 13) says that it is “just as possible” that it could be Henry’s first great ship, the Trinity Royal. I disagree. The contemporary official records for the king’s ships clearly state that the Trinity Royal was laid up at Hamble (meaning the village of Hamble), and that the Holigost was docked at Bursledon.
I very much hope that Historic England’s site survey work will confirm that the site at Bursledon contains the Holigost, but even if it does not, it would not alter the documentary record.
Dr Ian Friel
Author of Henry V’s Navy