Pirates Ahoy at Whitby Abbey!

Whitby Abbey’s Pirate season comes to a colourful conclusion over the Bank Holiday Weekend when the whole site will be overrun by scurvy sea dogs, smugglers and other 18th century ne’er-do-wells in an entertaining – and sometimes explosive – end to the summer holiday season!

Pirates have been seen as romantic figures – the highwaymen of the seas – since the 17th century, and over the bank holiday weekend, visitors will get a chance to come face to face with some of the most feared pirates of the seven seas, from Blackbeard to one of the most famous female pirates, Mary Read.

The Pirate Weekend truly is an event for all the family, with pirates and smugglers wandering around the site all weekend, puppet shows and open-air theatre performances of the pirate classic, Treasure Island. The event culminates in a skirmish between the pirates and their mortal enemies, the Royal Marines, at 3.00pm each day, with plenty of musket shooting, sword fighting and cannon fire to recreate the sounds of an 18th century conflict! Visitors will also have the chance to hear about the punishment awaiting pirates if they got caught, courtesy of executioner, Thomas Turlis.

“Piracy was often something that sailors fell into, rather than choosing a life of crime – sailors with a penchant for gambling, drinking and fighting soon gained a lawless reputation – and indeed, some may have believe themselves to be acting perfectly legally when they attacked ships belonging to nations at war with England,” explains Jon Hogan, English Heritage’s regional events manager. “In fact, with international politics changing frequently, and no system of notifying ships at sea when an enemy has become an ally, it was easy to mistake friend for foe and a legal ‘privateering’ attack to turn into piracy.”

Visitors will be able to wander around living history encampments, listening to presentations about life on board a ship, watching the Royal Marines as they practice drill and musket firing, and watch the pirates honing their skills with the cutlass. Children can also enjoy hands-on craft activities and dressing up in the Time Travellers Big Top.

The event runs from 11.00am to 5.00pm, with Whitby Abbey itself additionally open from 10.00am to 6.00pm. Admission prices are £5.80 for adults, £4.90 for concessions and £2.90 for children, or £14.50 for a family ticket (two adults and up to three children). English Heritage members get in free. There is an additional £1 admission per child (member and non-member).

For more information, please call 01947 603568 or visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/whitby

ENDS

Picture shows: Lock up your daughters – the Pirates are coming to Whitby Abbey!

For further media information, please contact: Jay Commins PRO – English Heritage Tel: 0113 251 5698 Mob: 07810 546567 Email: jay@fim.org.uk