Pirate Plunder is an independent title published thrice a year in May, November and November for The Pirate Brethren of the British Isles. It aims to encourage the fundraising activities of pirate crews by promoting pirate festivals and other events where charitable pirates are to be found.
As November, probably the most dismal month in the calendar, plods inexorably towards the joys of December, with family reunions, good fellowship, Christmas dinner, beer, rum and rumbustious shanty singing, I believe that the pirate community can look back on a year of undoubted progress.
The year began with a bang as the Brixham Pirate Festival launched an amazing season of successful pirate gatherings across the country. Pirates on the Quay at Burnham-onCrouch, Faversham, Ventnor and Withernsea all held festivals for a second year and Rye Pirates and Smugglers Day, organised by the dynamic Zoe Britton at very short notice, made its debut in a sunny East Sussex. Next year, there will be two additions to the list of where to see pirate action on page 26 as Ramsgate and Seaton are inaugurated (see adverts on pages 6 and 15).
We all have a great time at festivals meeting old maties and making new friends, but I wonder how often we consider the amount of hard graft that goes into making them a success. As a community, we should offer help when it is needed, either in fund-raising or practical assistance during the event.
Scuttlebutt
News and rumours from the Pirate Brotherhood of the Seven Seas.
Broadside
A parchment stamped with the seal of the IPC and reproduced here was received in September marking a historic tide for our great community.
Captain’s journal
Creating a carriage for a cannon
6
16
Jonathan Mann of Glipso Custom Reenactment Woodwork provides a step-bystep guide on how to construct a carriage for a gun barrel, with pictures showing the cannons in action at Conwy Pirate Festival.
8
The Captain visits the wise woman, Mummy Lucy, receives advice from her and is given a task to accomplish. He hopes that her confidence is well-placed.
Pirate Brotherhood 10
Another parchment lays down the Code of the International Pirate Community, which lists nine rules to follow, so that fraternity may reign over all seas,
Pub is a traditional treasure 12
At one time, The Shipwright’s Arms was a revenue cutter station, a post which would not have been appreciated by those ‘gentlemen of the night’ who preferred their illicit activities to go unnoticed.
Festival focus
14
Two festivals held at opposite ends of England in Whitby, Yorkshire, and Weymouth, Dorset, are in focus this issue. Good weather ensured that attendance was high at both events.
Shantyman
A brand-new festival at the Devon seaside resort of Ilfracombe will be back in 2026 and has already announced that 30 bands have registered to attend the second festival. This year’s festival in Westonsuper-Mare was the biggest and most successful yet, with a full complement of shanty crews and folk singers performing at 15 venues in the town. Pirates are welcome to attend this event in Somerset.
Trading post
19
20
Weapons, clothing, boots, hats, eye patches, earrings, tankards for grog and all manner of gear for pirates.
How to become a pirate
24
List of active pirate crews from the coast of South Devon up to the shores of the Forth and Clyde.
Where to see pirate action
26
Calendar of festivals or re-enactment events either organised by pirates or likely to be subject to a pirate attack.
Front Cover. Main image: Whitby Pirate Festival attracts pirates and landlubbers from all over the UK every year and the picture shows festival-goers on board the ‘Whitby Endeavour’. Inset: This well-equipped couple came ready to rock at The Dolmen Pirate Fest (picture courtesy of Rob Reeks).
Scuttlebutt
Pirate of Poole who left too soon Blackwater pirate loses hair for good cause
On 22 September, chaos reigned as Craig Knight-Bowers (AKA Captain Jack Sparrow) of the Blackwater Pirates lost 17 inches of his hair at the Simon Foxen Barber Shop in Thundersley, Essex, and donated the locks to the Little Princess Trust, which makes wigs for children who have lost their hair due to cancer treatment or other conditions.
Craig contacted his good friend and barber, Simon Foxen, to ask him if he would play the Clown Prince of Chaos, The Joker, and cut off his
hair. Simon couldn’t turn down such a mad request!
Wendy Tarplee-Morris, founder of the Little Princess Trust, said: “I would like to thank Craig Knight-Bowers for the brilliant support of our charity and for the fun way he has had his hair cut.
“We know how much our wigs can help children at such a very difficult time, but we can only provide this free service to young people thanks to our amazing supporters like Craig, who donate and fundraise for us.”
Sallyann (15.7.71-28.9.25) was a star PR Pirate, bringing The Pirates of Poole out of the dark ages and into the 21st century, with her knowledge and expertise of IT, and endless ideas of how to raise money for the benefit of charity!
Approaching everything with determination and always on a mission to find new ways to improve.
Leaving behind her lover, best friend and partner, Dave. They say your friends are the family of your choice. We are here for you Dave in these dark times and always.
Love keeps us strong, uniting us during sad times.
Your kindness and patience kept us sane when things did not go as planned and somehow you managed to fix it.
Admired by all who had the pleasure of knowing you, your determination and audacity to get things
It’s a fact
The ships of various European empires seeking land to colonise dropped anchor in different islands of the Caribbean and it was Spanish sailors that came ashore in what is now called Puerto Rico (Rich Port). The Taino, who were the indigenous people of
done, always positive and would not take ‘NO’ for an answer.
Never giving up, always putting others first, even during your last days.
Natty, smart, supportive, caring, strong, never suffered fools and generous. Always had a spare hug to give...
This is the Sallyann we came to know and love, her body was worn out too soon, but her soul lives on. Thank you, Sallyann, it’s been a privilege to have known you.
the island, had developed an advanced agricultural society, including hand-woven beds made of cotton, agave or bark fibre. These beds were called ‘Hamaka’ and were often tied between trees to ensure secure sleep above ground or just for daytime naps.
The Spanish adopted this style of suspended rest and also kept the name, which evolved over time into the English word ‘hammock’. Eventually, their use aboard ships – both naval and piratical – spread throughout the world.
Although their culture was heavily impacted by colonisation, many people in Puerto Rico today identify as Taíno and still have Taíno ancestry.
Party time for pirates Party time for pirates
Afantastic party to raise funds for next year’s Ramsgate Pirates Festival was held in the town’s New Belgium Bar on
1 November and those who attended all agreed that the location on Harbour Parade deserved their thanks for the hospitality.
The piratical entertainment included
shanty bands and dance performances by The Kentish Buccaneers, Ramsgate Ravens and the Steam-Punk Dance Crew, with a special guest appearance by the TwoTone Pirates.
The picture shows some of the Ramsgate Pirates and taking centre place is Seb Reilly (Editor: No, he wasn’t wearing Micky Mouse ears). Seb is the proprietor of Plunder Ltd, a bookshop and tearoom at 32 High Street, Ramsgate.
Early next year, this will expand when he launches the Thanet Smuggler Experience. Pegwell Bay, three miles from Ramsgate, was a major centre for smuggling. Tunnels were reportedly dug from the beach up to pubs and houses in the area, and the new attraction will recreate the tunnels, with real artifacts used by smuggling gangs of the past.
Broadside
Just a few words to say, “Ahoy there” and hope ye are well and in good spirits, preferably rum! This now be a quiet time for the Sea Dragon Pirates, with the
Brixham be awash with excitement in November, as townsfolk gathered to behold a brand-new mural honourin’ none other than the legendary Captain Blackheart on the grand occasion of his 80th voyage ’round the sun.
The mighty artwork, splashed across the harbour walls like a tale from the high seas, was brought to life by the gifted artist Sketch.
boats all being in dry dock, otherwise known as my back yard. Chrissy Cutlass and myself recently paid a visit to a new pirate event in our local area of Alfreton. Called ‘Furthest from
With strokes bold as cannon fire and colours bright enough to shame the sunrise, Sketch has crafted a tribute worthy o’ the old sea dog himself. Already, the mural be drawin’ crowds of landlubbers and seasoned sailors alike, each eager to catch a glimpse and snap a keepsake o’ the spectacle. Such a feat would ne’er have set sail were it not for the fine generosity
The Pirate Guys
All around the world and even hundreds of miles above it on the International Space Station, people celebrate ‘International Talk Like a Pirate Day’ on 19 September. To discover how it began by chance in 1995 visit:
the Sea’, the group provides entertainment in the form of pirate-themed music, comedy and art for children of all ages, The members welcomed both of us and showed interest in helping to expand our
of Fletch and Neil from I.scream, who offered up their sturdy walls – an’ their stouthearted support – to give the Captain a place o’ honour in the town he holds dear. Their kindness has earned ‘em a rightful place among Brixham’s own legends. Locals say the mural be more than just a splash o’ paint, but a rallyin’ cry o’ pirate pride, a celebration o’ Brixham’s spirit and
piratical activities in the future, Cap’n Frank Sharman, Sea Dragon Pirates, Kirkby in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire
a reminder that the old tales still live and breathe in every corner o’ the harbour.
With colours flyin’, spirits high and the legacy o’ Captain Blackheart painted for all to see, the town once more proves itself a place where myth and merriment sail side by side.
Louise Anderson, Brixham, Devon
John (Ol’ Chumbucket) Baur
Mark (Cap’n Slappy) Summers
Captain’s journal 14 th April, 1674
Hail to you faithful reader. Yesterday, having put foot to shore and rejecting rebellion for need, I finally swallowed my pride and visited the wise woman, Mummy Lucy.
The day was hot and still as Davy and I made our way out of the town, and through into the jungle interior of the island. I brought Davy this time round as when I asked my first choice, Titus (who at least knew a little of the woman we were going to see), he crossed himself, turned twice in a circle then ran off and hid somewhere in the galley. The interior was alive with noise and movement, a lianachoked chattering riot of vivid greens surrounded us on all sides. We’d barely left the open fields when a smooth black serpent, the width of a strong man’s arm
glided silently across the unkempt jungle path. I’d dutifully written down the very explicit directions the lad who’d brought me the witch’s invitation had given and was following them to the letter, which of course meant we were utterly lost, leading to a certain amount of unhelpful bickering.
“We’ve passed that stump twice Cap’n!”
“Yes, thank you very much Francis Drake.”
greying dreads, wearing colourful linens and a profusion of impressive though garish jewellery (some paste and tin, some genuine to my practiced eye). Though physically small, she projected a sense of being larger than life. As Davy and I approached the house she fixed us with a puzzled frown.
“Mi see yuh meet mi Socksy cat. Weh yu waant?”
I cleared my throat nervously and started to introduce myself, but was interrupted.
“Mi know who yuh is, but weh yu waant?”
“Who?”
“Oh for God’s sake…”
It was while we’d stopped to exchange these peevish unpleasantries that Davy noticed a rangy black cat with white feet and bib, sitting in the middle of the path ahead and staring intently at us.
Once it was sure it had our full attention, it sauntered across to a huge bush, with a
tiny gap in the foliage behind, shot us one more meaningful look and jumped through. Davy and I looked at each other, shrugged and followed. The tiny gap led on to an altogether better managed path, then finally on to a most incongruous sight. In the middle of the jungle a tidy square of managed lawn had been carved out. Plant beds and vegetable patches ran either side of a grey stone path heading to a gaily-painted, wooden house. We watched as our feline guide trotted up a little set of steps on to the outside deck and leapt up into the lap of the porch’s sole occupant.
Reclining in a cane chair, Mummy Lucy cut an interesting figure. Physically, she was a quite small Caribbean woman with
After a short beat, she relented and suggested we take a seat, looking round I could see no spare seats, so exchanging a panicky shrug with Davy we sat down on the path, prompting Mummy Lucy to completely break composure. Her whole face lit up in merriment and she rocked back in her chair, letting out gales of laughter.
“Aah yuh daft brush! Tek a seat pan di porch bench up yah. It deh behind di post.”
Feeling rather foolish, we stood, dusted ourselves off and seated ourselves on the unnoticed (practically invisible really) bench on the porch and once again unpacked our sorry tale.
The witch looked off
into middle distance and absently started tamping tobacco into a little carved pipe she produced from her frock.
“Yu fren open wan dor an no shut it. Now him pass, an di duty pas to yuh.”
I reminded her that the door Matthew opened had slammed shut as soon as he fell back through it, and we certainly hadn’t opened it again. She looked at me with amusement.
“No di real door, di door weh him did open inna elsewhere.”
She explained that Matthew had opened the red door to something that had been buried a long long time ago, by the very first occupants of the land uncounted years before. When I ventured that Bermuda had only been recently discovered, she frowned.
“Noweh pan dis ya Eart no new. Evriweh old, an dis a fram befuor. Befuor Gad wash di Eart cliin”.
It seems if we want to exorcise both ourselves and the seas we travel, I’m going to need to return to that dreaded place. But not completely unprepared, she warned me that if I was to close the door and lock it, I’d need help from this world and the next. This world made a bit more sense, it seems that cursed chamber isn’t the only holdover from
‘befuor’. There’s a maze beneath a mountain, on Barbuda in the Antilles, and there I’ll find a key. The next world was a little less practical.
“If yuh a go up against dis, yuh need di favor a di most high. However yuh choose fi reach him. Else yuh doomed”.
Before we left, she
looked appraisingly at Davy and asked if he was hungry, then without waiting for an answer bustled off and returned with a cloth full of johnnycakes, which she pressed into his grateful hands.
Turning to me she gave me a powerful hug, shaking me back and
forth with surprising strength and as we took our leave, she bade me return when our task was complete. Let us hope, for all our sakes, that her confidence is well-placed.
Pirate brotherhood
Pub is a traditional treasure
Built well over 300 years ago, The Shipwright’s Arms at Hollowshore was first licenced as a pub in 1738 although the timber-clad building would undoubtedly have operated as an inn long before then. Hollowshore (originally named ‘Holy Shore’ by a Viking King) is located just a few miles the Kentish town of Faversham from where the notorious pirate Jack Ward, who became the inspiration for Jack Sparow, first learned his trade on a fishing boat. Apart from serving pirates and smugglers, the inn was a well-
known place for sailors and fishers in the Thames estuary to stop and refresh themselves while waiting to go up Faversham Creek to unload in the nearby town. In those days it would also have been quite normal for an inn serving mariners to provide certain ‘feminine comforts’ as well!
At one time, The Shipwright’s Arms was a revenue cutter station, a post which would not have been appreciated by those ‘gentlemen of the night’ who preferred their illicit activities to go unnoticed. The pub has always had links to the maritime agencies and Derek Cole, the current landlord, has kept up the tradition by acting as a ‘reporting member’ to the coastguard.
He has also created a venue that is all a traditional pub should be and as there is no wi-fi, customers are encouraged to talk to each other rather than into their phone. Its interior and artifacts bear witness to its past and visitors are often invited to come and meet ‘Hollowshore Harry,’ a piratical figure lurking in his own corner of the pub.
An increasingly rare feature of the pub is that its real ales are gravity-fed straight from the cask, which means
that there are no beer lines to clean. These are mostly brewed in Kent by Goachers and other local breweries, and guest beers from outside the county are occasionally hosted. It’s not possible to book a table, but good, wholesome ‘pub grub’ is welcomed, particularly by those who have arrived by walking alongside the creek.
To sum up, this pub is a traditional treasure where readers of Pirate Plunder won’t feel out of place or, if wearing their pirate garb, out of time!
More information from www.theship wrightsathollowshore .co.uk
The pub’s interior bears witness to its past.
The Shipwright’s Arms is a free house.
Festival Focus
Wonderful Whitby and Weymouth
Always popular and great fun are two pirate festival held at opposite ends of England in Whitby, Yorkshire, from 29-31 August and Weymouth, Dorset, from 3-5 October, this year. Reports on both festivals
follow and thanks are due to Sem Vine of The Dolmen for her valuable contribution.
WHITBY: Held in support of the Whitby branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution since 2008 for which it has raised over £10,000, with £3,832.50 added this year, the
town attracts pirates and landlubbers from all over the UK every year.
The Festival’s Pirate King was crowned on board the ‘Whitby Endeavour’ on Friday evening, an honour that meant he was the Flag bearer at the Hoist Your Colours event and judged the best-dressed pirate competition on the following day. This even had a category for Salty Sea Dogs and Pirate Parrots.
On Saturday, a Treasure Hunters Bazaar featured a variety of stalls offering unique pirate-themed merchandise, crafts and delicious food, mead and rum. Meanwhile, more mature pirates could embark on a thrilling treasure hunt around Whitby’s pubs. Entertainment was provided by popular rock ‘n’ roll and shanty bands such as Antflavour, Fat Medicine, Reivers’
All smiles at Whitby (picture courtesy of Simon McCabe Photography). The Dolmen in the Pirate Parade
Gallows and The Jack Tars.
WEYMOUTH: Never in all its many forms over a 30-year history, whether beach skirmish, parlay or full-blooded Festival, has The Dolmen Weymouth Pirate Fest hosted so many buckled and beribboned ne’er-do-wells, cavorting in its streets and revelling in its wares.
Once again, this goodhumoured annual festival brought a whole weekend of laughter, music and entertainment for every age of pirate, with jovial embraces of old friends and the meeting of new and, erm… maybe just a little rum!
Gracing the quayside this year was the
stunning replica of the 16th century Spanish carrack, Nao Victoria, brought to port through a collaboration between Taloch Jameson of The Dolmen and Pete Berresford of Brixham Pirate Festival. Officially greeted by Weymouth’s Mayor, Councillor Caroline Nickinson, this wonderful vessel was not only open to the public throughout the event, but also played host to a live performance by The Dolmen, rocking the harbour in their inimitable style under a near full moon. We are sure that Weymouth’s first Mayor, the 16th century pirate, Hugh Randall, awoke to jig with audience upon the decks!
The Dolmen’s infamous Pirate Parade saw the biggest turnout of pirates yet. Despite the gusty winds of Storm Amy’s tail, pirates young and young-at-heart joined its playful ranks to follow the pipes and
Festival
drums, sailing the streets under the flags of rascally crews that had travelled from near and as far as Germany and The Netherlands to be in the moment, dishing out chocolate doubloons and trinkets along the way. Saturday continued into the evening with Weymouth buzzing as ever, as a feast of live music and fantastic street events popped up through the town and in the pubs.
Weymouth Pirate Fest HQ, Hardy’s Hophouse, hosted a heaving night of musical mayhem, first with Ravenhymn, who brought with
them a unique flavour of medieval piracy, followed by the classic Celtic pirate rock we know and love from event originators and organisers, The Dolmen. With a suitably mellow Sunday for Survivors of roasts, good tunes and even the fun o’ the fair, the event closed as wonderfully as it began, with happy if partyworn pirates still ready for more to come! So, are we all up for more at the next Weymouth Pirate Fest, which is to be held from 2-4 October, 2026? For news and updates visit: www. weymouthpiratefest.com
Parade (picture courtesy of David Goulden).
Creating a carriage for a cannon
Just before the Covid-19 lock-down, we purchased a couple of cannon barrels for the Conwy Pirate Festival from Cast Cannons of Wigan. The pandemic that followed gave me an excellent opportunity to work on the carriages needed to support out new acquisitions. I was able to obtain some large sections of oak from my timber supplier and began research into authentic designs.
One of our group is very knowledgable on historic firearms and was able to supply many drawings and a plethora of information to keep the designs authentic. His advice, which I took on board, is that many amateur carriages miss several critical design details. The first mistake is to oversize the carriage for the barrel in an attempt to make the entire gun look larger. This, however, makes the completed weapon look out of proportion. Many carriages are far too tall. The other critical design items for authenticity are that the cheeks should angle inwards toward the muzzle and the front wheels should be larger in diameter than the front (originally to take account of deck camber).
Dimensions depend on
By Jonathan Mann*
individual barrel sizes, but in general the height would have suited the gun port dimensions, the barrel when horizontal should be slightly below gunport centre. The length of the cheeks should be the measurement between trunnion centre and the end of the cascabel plus twice the trunnion diameter. The diameter of the trucks should be approximately three times the trunnion diameter. The back edge of the forward axle should be aligned with the trunnion centre.
The timber I obtained was rough cut oak and my first task was to cut the approximately 12ft by 8 in x 3 in timber
roughly to rough size, so it was easier to handle. I planned out the cuts to make most efficient use of the timber avoiding knots where possible or, in one case, planning its position for visual effect.
After cutting, the timber needed planing. These baulks were at the very limit of my eightinch planer thicknesser and a large number of fine passes were needed to reduce all sections to a smooth, equal thickness.
The side cheeks of the cannon are taller than 8 in, so two sections had to be joined together. To accomplish a strong joint always bearing in mind the sort of heavy loading that may be
encountered, I utilised a double loose tongue joint. Using the router two parallel quarter-inch grooves were cut in the timbers and a piece of ply was inserted as the loose tongue in each groove with plenty of PU glue.
Once set, the excess glue was cleaned off and the shape of the cheeks marked out to be cut with the bandsaw. Planing and sanding ensued to take out the saw cut marks and the cheeks were checked for flatness and symmetry. Whilst laid out next to each other identical markings were made on each for the large mortices needed to take the horizontal pieces
Cannons on Conwy Quay open fire during the town’s Pirate Festival.
separating the sides. These mortices were virtually the full height of the cheeks and one third of the depth of the timber (approximately one inch). To take out most of the waste, I used a router freehand. However, the joints had to be completed by chisel to get the required angle for the tapering of the sides. The tennons were cut on the circular saw.
The designs seen by me had a hinged internal shelf that supports the elevation wedge, so I fabricated that next. This shelf was hinged on a length of galvanised, threaded studding. It is important to try and use galvanised fittings in oak where possible as unprotected steel fittings will rust quickly due to the tannin content and
cause black staining in the wood.
Drilling holes through the very hard and quite large timbers for through bolts was a challenge, but accomplished by drilling from both ends with a long auger bit. Drilling from both ends
and meeting in the middle saves the drill from wandering too far and coming out in the wrong place.
With these components made the holes drilled and bolts prepared, I was ready to do the first assembly stage. This
involved gluing the cheeks to the cross members and using the bolts to help clamp everything together, as well as several sash clamps. Once assembled it is important to check the corner diagonally to ensure the structure is ‘square’.
They are also used in the Conwy Pirates Cannon Range.
Even young lady pirates enjoy taking part in the action!
Once assembled and secure, I was able to invert the carriage to mark the axles. I used a square section of timber that was let into the side cheeks. Marking at this stage allowed the axle bar to be placed on the cheeks to get the correct angles for the cuts. The axle was marked out and then transferred
to the lathe to have the ends rounded off. I also cut out mortices in the rounded ends for the small wedges holding the trucks/wheels in place. The wheels obviously take a lot of abuse and the strongest way I could manufacture them was by cutting three circles of one-inch-thick oak and laminating them
together. I used a simple jig on the bandsaw to
cut out accurate circles before gluing them together. The completed wheels were finished on the lathe before having the centres cut out with a forstener bit to accommodate the Trunnion caps can be quite easily fabricated using scaffold tube slit in half and welded to flat bar. The pivots were forged using the garden chiminea to raise half-inch square bar to red heat for bending and rounding off the other end to be tapped. The trunnion pivots pass right through the cheeks top to bottom with a nut and washer on the bottom to add strength and prevent splitting.
Custom Gadgetry
Cap firing Flintlock Pistol specialist, many tailor-made styles & sizes, individually hand-crafted to fire 2, 3 or 4 caps. Swords, Skulls, Buckles, Blunderbusses, Water & Confetti Cannons, plus much more.
The completed carriage was treated with a traditional stain made by soaking wire wool in a jar of vinegar for a while. When applied the stain instantly transforms the oak with an aged antique look. Final finish was a wax polish made by dissolving paraffin wax in white spirit gently heated in a water bath. The completed carriages have now been used on many occasions and are performing well. I have subsequently made several more carriages some in oak and some in pine. The pine performs just as well and is cheaper and far lighter.
*Jonathan’s woodwork has been displayed at the Conwy Pirate Festival.
Poole
Shanty festivals in 2026
Abrandnew festival at the Devon seaside resort of Ilfracombe provided two days of sea shanties and revelry, with shanty crews
travelling from all over the UK to perform. Organised by Scuttlebutt Shanty, it will be back in 2026 and has already announced that 30 groups have registered to attend the second festival in what
deserves to become a regular event.
Across the border in Somerset, this year’s festival in Westonsuper-Mare was the biggest and most successful yet, with a full complement of shanty crews and folk
Sea Shanty and Folk Music Festival
Weston-super-Mare, Somerset
31 July-2 August, 2026 www.wsmshantyfest.com
Brancaster Staithe
Sea Shanty Festival Brancaster Staithe, Norfolk 11-13 September, 2026 www.brancasterstaithe-shantyfest.co.uk
singers performing at 15 venues in the town. Pirates are welcome to attend and the organisers have once again invited visitors to come dressed as their favourite piratical character and add to the fun!
Harwich International Shanty Festival Harwich, Essex 9-11 October, 2026 www.harwichshantyfestival.co.uk
Hotel c Restaurant c Bar
A warm welcome awaits pirates and smugglers at this 600-year-old inn 01797 223065 info@mermaidinn.com www.mermaidinn.com
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Cotton shirt for lady pirates
Ashirt for female buccaneers from Southern Swords is made from thick, 100% cotton and laces around the ends of the sleeves and neck
allowing the wearer to create different looks. This medium weight fabric garment is very durable and can be supplied in beige, white or black. It can be machinewashed at 40°C (warm),
with an initial shrinkage of around 3%, and should be washed separately from other materials the first time, but can subsequently be mixed with similar colours.
The shirt is available in four sizes: small (37 inch chest); medium (41 inch chest); large (45 inch chest) and extra large (50 inch chest).
More information from www.southernswords.co.uk
T-shirts and more
In addition to its wide range of pirate T-shirts, hoodies, caps, tote bags, mugs and other products, HKCB Designs (see advert on page 23) also offers unique clothing designs for pirate crews and festival
organisers. These can be custom-printed or embroidered to suit any occasion.
All items are made to order and can usually be dispatched within two days.
More information from www.hkcb-designs.co.uk
Wooden chest for treasure Sterling silver skull pendant
Amongst the wide range of jewellery offered by Pandemonium is this skull pendant in ‘Sterling silver 95’, which denotes a silver alloy that is 95% pure silver and 5% other metals, usually copper. Other items in stock include rings, bracelets, earrings, necklaces and a variety of body piercing jewellery. As well as pirates, Pandemonium also serves goths and punks looking for eye-catching styles in men and ladies’ clothing, shoes, gifts and accessories.
More information from www.whitbypandemonium. co.uk
Pirate sword stand
An attractive sword stand (Reference SKU: VIL09) has been imported from Europe by The Pirate Shop. Crafted from oak and finished with Danish Oil, it is the ideal way for a pirate to display a
trusted sword.
It measures 31 cm in length and is 12 cm in height, although these dimensions are approximate and may vary from piece to piece.
More information from www.thepirateshop.co.uk
Every cabin boy with a pirate-themed bedroom needs a large chest for his treasure of doubloons – even if they made of chocolate!
Dorset Gifts offers a strongly-made wooden chest (Reference SKU: DG6404), which measures 29 x 17 x 17 cm (Editor: I was given a smaller version of the same chest for my birthday and it is very useful for
holding odds and ends).
A wide range of pirate gifts and novelties are supplied by the Poolebased company, whose e-mail is shown below. More information from www.dorsetgifts.com
online LARP shop for leather gear and weapons
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Double sword holder/scabbard
A new double sword holder/scabbard (Reference PO0865) from Larp Inn is equipped with two adjustable buckles on each section, thus allowing a pirate to adjust the size of each holder to suit whatever size of weapon it is required to
accommodate.
It can either be used to hold two swords or a combination of a sword and a boarding axe. Made of black leather, it not only looks impressive, but is also practical in action. More information from www.larpinn.co.uk
OLD HARRY’S LOCKER
in Swanage, Dorset, for Nautical Curios Antiques and Collectables
Tel: 07961 572032
E-mail: cw1@gmx.co.uk
Limited edition Black Strap Rum
Pusser’s Rum has drawn on its rich naval heritage to create ‘Night Watch’, a blend of aged distillate from vintage wooden pot stills in Guyana and rum from Louisiana Blackstrap Molasses, considered to be the finest in the world. The initial release of this new blend is limited to an edition of just 480 cases in the UK, of which Nauticalia has secured 96. This spirited creation is reminiscent of the steadfast sailor keeping the midnight watch, evoking a sense of mystery, depth and intensity with a bold, rich flavour not unlike the issue first served to His Majesty’s sailors and officers in 1655. Blackstrap Rum, like the black powderstained sails of a ship after battle, became a
symbol of resilience and strength in the early days of the Royal Navy. It is 40% ABV and sold in a 70 cl bottle.
More information from www.nauticalia.com
PIRATES
When buying any of the fine products featured in these pages, I’d be much obliged if ye’d mention Pirate Plunder
Unless ye intends to steal a ship or become a mutineer if ye are already on one, then the best course of action is to sign on with one of the active pirate crews listed on these two pages. If retired from a life of piracy, then ye’ve a duty to keep faith with The Brethren by celebrating ‘International Talk Like a Pirate Day’ on 19th September every year!
The Jolly Rogers – Dorset www.jollyrogersdorset.co.uk
The Pirate Castle www.thepiratecastle.org
The Pirate’s Rum Bible www.facebook.com/groups/3461839360611139
UOM Pirate Society (University of Manchester) Instagram: @uompiratesoc
Whitby International Pirate Society www.whitbypirates.co.uk
The flag of Ramsgate Pirates, which bears the recently formed crew’s official logo of a ship’s wheel framing a skull, with a raven on the left eye socket, has now been raised in the Thanet coastal town. The raven comes from the area’s earliest reference in the Anglo-Saxon tongue to ‘Hræfn’s geat’, meaning raven’s cliff gap. By the 13th century what was then a fishing hamlet came to be known as Remmesgate or sometimes as Ramisgate. The town grew and in 1483 Ramsgate was adopted as a limb (outlying port) of Sandwich and thus part of the Cinque Ports confederation.
Sea Dragon Pirates
Rye Pirates & Smugglers
Ramsgate Pirates raise flag
Port of Plymouth Pirates
Ramsgate Pirates
Where to see pirate action
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this calendar, but like the weather, dates may be subject to change, so you are advised to check the forecast with the organiser’s website afore setting sail. The Editor of Pirate Plunder would also be much obliged if those arranging festivals would let him know of any changes to location, duration or even cancellation of their events, so pirates can be informed.
