English Tudor shipwreck gains protection

A Tudor shipwreck found on mudflats in Kent by local volunteers looking for demolished Second World War pillboxes has been given protection.

Volunteers have found the remnants of a 16th century shipwreck submerged on an English mudflat. (AAP)

Volunteers searching for buried World War II pillboxes on a British beach have instead stumbled across a Tudor-era medieval shipwreck.

The wreck, found on a tidal mudflat at Tankerton Beach in Kent, measuring 12 by five metres was found by archaeological volunteers and due to it being the only wreck of its sort in south east England has been given historical protection.

Timescapes director Mark Harrison says the organisation's volunteers were amazed to see the timbers of the ship appearing out of the sand, while they examined the area looking for demolished pillboxes, concrete dug-in guard posts used in wartime.

"Adjacent to a lump of exploded concrete, we were amazed to see the timbers of a ship appearing out of the sand," Harrison said.

"We reported the find to Historic England and are pleased that what turned out to be a medieval wreck has been given protection and that this excavation could tell us more about its story."

Testing on the wood revealed one oak plank came from southern Britain and was felled in 1531, while other samples were tentatively dated to the 16th century.

The wreck also provides evidence of Tudor and early Stuart shipbuilding techniques, Harrison said.