Shipwrecks and sea shanties bring pirate history to life at Mount Edgcumbe

Swashbuckling tales of high sea adventure and real buccaneer booty will be bringing pirate history to life at Mount Edgcumbe House and Country Park’s Shipwrecks and Sea Shanties day, part of Plymouth’s Marine City Festival.

On Sunday 9 September, families from Devon and Cornwall will have the chance to learn and sing along to old Sea Shanty songs, listen to the stories of divers who have found wrecks on the bottom of the sea and marvel at the tales of Diamond Dave - the unluckiest pirate in history.

The event promises a day of fun for all the family, with expert talks on the wrecks in Plymouth Sound and the artifacts discovered for adults to enjoy while the children gasp at Diamond Dave's exploits and discover what lies beneath the waves just off the local beach.

Traditional Sea Shanty singers will be providing the musical entertainment with classic songs and catchy verses for everyone to sing along to, and refreshments will be provided with cream teas and cake included in the ticket price.

David Marshall from Mount Edgcumbe House and Country Park said: “Shipwrecks and Sea Shanties has something for everyone - children will love the exciting stories of pirate life and finding out how close to home some of their adventures took place, and for the grown ups we’ll have experts on hand with diving equipment and items from the wrecks in the Sound to discover.

“We’re really excited to be a part of the Marine City Festival and to celebrate the fantastic maritime history of our local waters with a day of fun for all the family to enjoy.”

Shipwrecks and Sea Shanties is one of the many family friendly events taking place during the Marine City Festival, which runs from Saturday 8 to Sunday 16 September.

The festival, organised by Destination Plymouth, will celebrate Plymouth’s unique relationship with the sea and will combine science and sport with food and entertainment in a packed programme of events.

Mount Edgcumbe’s Shipwrecks and Sea Shanties event takes place from 2.30pm on Sunday 9 September. Tickets are £10 for a family of up to two adults and two children, and £5 per person after that. Tickets include entry to Mount Edgcumbe House and Country Park and afternoon refreshments, and can be booked in advance by calling 01752 822236.

The Plymouth Marine City Festival runs from Saturday 8 to Sunday 16 September, and also includes a business expo, marine science conference and outdoor cinema programme. For the full line up of events, please visit www.marinecityfestival.com or follow @marinefestival on Twitter.