Golden Age of Piracy

Join us for a weekend of living history as the Old Royal Naval College is overrun with pirates! This event is perfect for families and history enthusiasts alike.

Spend the day with our crew and discover life during the ‘Golden Age of Piracy,’ the period between 1650 and 1720 when more than 5,000 pirates were said to have sailed the seas.

Learn to separate pirate fact from fiction, enjoy songs of the sea, witness small sword and cutlass fights, and hear the tale of a real 18th-century mutiny.

The day culminates with a bang as we demonstrate the firepower of pirates and marines in the arena on the lawns overlooking the River Thames.

In between, you can wander amongst the encampment and get a unique insight into the clothes and weapons of the early 18th century. Listen to live musicians play music of the time, and sample authentic food from the Taste of History period kitchen. Engage with the various activities or simply enjoy the atmosphere – the choice is yours!

TIMETABLE

• 11am: Welcome – Live period music from Green Matthews
• 11.30am: Sword demonstration – An introduction to eighteenth-century swords with a demonstration of sword fighting
• 12pm: Songs of the Sea – Live period music from Green Matthews
• 12.30pm: Know Your Enemy – Busting pirate myths and tropes in the Painted Hall
• 1.30pm: Mutiny on the Bounty – Tells the tale of a desperate act of mutiny in the 18th century
• 2pm: Sword demonstration – An introduction to eighteenth-century swords with a demonstration of sword fighting
• 2.30pm: Songs of the Sea – Live period music from Green Matthews
• 3pm: Firepower demonstration – Firepower of pirates and marines
• 3.30pm: Farewell – Live period music from Green Matthews
• 11am-4pm: Living History encampment – Throughout the day on Lower Grand Square, featuring an 18th Century sailmaker, ropemaker, period kitchen and an array of fascinating characters from the period.