My Planner0

To build your own Itinerary, click Add to Excursion to add an item to your Itinerary basket.

Already saved an Itinerary?

Places to Visit
Search
Places to Stay
Search
What's On
Search

Places to Visit Search

Places to Stay Search

What's On Search

Places to Stay Search

Places to Visit Search

What's On Search

Golden Age of pirates

As an island, Britain was home to several pirates and privateers. Piracy was so prevalent in fact that an era during the Elizabethan period was known as the Golden Age of Piracy.

The Golden Age of Piracy covers a time period between the 1650s and 1730s, when piracy was rife around the North Atlantic and Indian Oceans. It was typically split into three different eras, the Buccaneering Period, which mostly covered the Caribbean and saw ships attacking Spanish vessels and those transporting goods around the Pacific; the Pirate Round which involved long distance voyages between the Americas and mostly involved the East India Company and the Post Spanish Succession period, where sailors left unemployed after the end of the War of Spanish Succession turned to piracy.

History of piracy

As an island, Britain was home to several pirates and privateers. Piracy was so prevalent in fact that an era during the Elizabethan period was known as the Golden Age of Piracy.

History of piracy

Piracy began to emerge following conflicts over trade and colonisation among rival European powers, including Britain, Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal and France. Most pirates in this era were of Welsh, English, Dutch, Irish and French origins and tended to come from poorer areas.

When it comes to British pirates, the majority came from coastal towns, like Bristol, Plymouth and other areas of the West Country, hence the accent we all recognise. Others came from London docklands areas.

It is believed that the Golden Age of Piracy began around 1650 following the Wars of Religion which allowed European countries to resume the development of their colonial empires. This involved sea travel, leading to rival countries attacking and raiding ships for the goods they were carrying, much of it high in value.

The increase of piracy around Tortuga began after the English captured Jamaica from Spain. The early governors freely allowed buccaneers and fellow Englishmen to raid passing shops and to sell anything they had stolen around the markets. It was around this time that the pirate Henry Morgan plundered, sacked and burned Panama City.

1690s-1700

During this decade, pirates began looking beyond the Caribbean. The Glorious Revolution in England had restored the traditional rivalry between Britain and France and ended the friendship between English Jamaica and French Tortuga.

Post Spanish Succession

From around 1714, various peace treaties ended the War of the Spanish Succession and thousands of men, who had been employed in several European navies found themselves unemployed and looking for ways to make money at the time when cross Atlantic shipping was starting to boom.

This led to a rise in piracy around the Atlantic, the majority of the British names from this time were ex-privateers and included Charles Vane, Samual Bellamy, Benjamin Hornigold and Henry Jennings.

As part of the settlement following the War of the Spanish Succession, the British South Sea Company was awarded a contract to supply slaves to Spain’s colonies and contributed heavily to the rise in piracy in this part of the world. Living conditions and wages at this time were so bad that many sailors preferred the freedom of being a pirate compared to living within the law. Sailors for the Royal Navy often had little to eat and rarely saw their families, which led to many of them deserting the crown and turning to piracy instead. This is one of the reasons why pirates were so well equipped at fighting the navy.

Pirates vs Privateers

During the Golden Age of Piracy, many that undertook piracy were excused of their crimes for being privateers. There are a few differences between the two, however, the name pirate was originally given to buccaneers who operated around the Caribbean when they were paid by the government to attack Spanish ships. Later, they started doing this without the incentive of pay.

Privateers on the other hand were private persons who engaged in maritime warfare under a commission of war, which gave them the authority to raid enemy ships with exemption from piracy charges. Privateers have been in existence since the Middle Ages, when ship owners were given permission to attack in revenge for a loss of their own ships.

The end of piracy

By the 18^th century, tolerance for privateers was wearing thin across the world, especially after the Treaty of Ultrecht, which was the result of the War of the Spanish Succession. The Treaty allowed the British to establish naval superiority in Europe, as well as control of Menorca and Gibraltar, which remains under British ownership.

Best known privateers

A Privateer is a private person who was granted permission to engage in maritime warfare. Many were awarded letters of marque from the monarch or government, which empowered them to attack foreign vessels, seize the goods and then divide the proceeds between themselves, the issuer of the letter, the crew and any sponsors.

Sir Francis Drake
Best known for circumnavigating the world in a single expedition. He would become a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I and was involved in the Spanish and English Armadas.

Sir John Hawkins
Hawkins was an early promoter of the English slave trade and was a cousin of Francis Drake. He served in the victory against the Spanish Armada and was also involved in the English Armada.

Sir George Somers
Somers was knighted for his achievements as part of the Virgina Company of London, he is remembered as the founder of the English colony of Bermuda.

Sir Walter Raleigh
Another of Queen Elizabeth’s favourites, Raleigh was granted a royal charter which allowed him to explore, colonise and rule any land that was not “possessed of any Christian Prince or inhabited by Christian People."

Best known British pirates

Black Sam Bellamy
Known as the Robin hood of Pirates, he prided himself on his ideological justifications for piracy. He was the captain of the Wydah Gally and was lost in a storm off Cape Cod in 1717.

Stede Bonnet
A rich land owner, Bonnet turned to piracy in search of adventure and was captain of the Revenge. He was caught and executed in 1718.

Henry Every
One of the major pirates of the Golden Age of Piracy who actually managed to retire without being arrested or dying in battle. He was known to captain the Ganj-i-Sawai.

William Fly
His execution is said to have ended the Golden Age of Piracy.

William Captain Kid
Supposedly left behind buried treasure that has never been found, he was executed for piracy at Execution Dock in London.

Edward Low
Unlike most pirates, who came from Britain’s coastal towns, Low was born in Westminster. He was never captured but was feared throughout the world for torturing his prisoners.

Henry Morgan
The pirate who was famous for taking Panama City and burning it to the ground. He was supposed to executed but was instead knighted and made governor of Jamaica, you might recognise his name from the brand of rum.

Calico Jack Rackham
Was known for partnering with infamous female pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read. He was captured and executed in Port Royal, Jamaica.

Black Bart Roberts
Believed to be the most successful western pirate of all time.

Edward Blackbeard Teach
The most notorious pirate, he was best known for captaining the Queen Anne’s Revenge, he was eventually killed by British sailors.

Charles Vane
Unpopular with his crew, Vane was marooned by his fellow pirates before being captured and executed.

Benjamin Hornigold
An English pirate who founded the Republic of Pirates and mentored Blackbeard. He was pardoned by the monarchy and became a pirate hunter.

Anne Bonny and Mary Read
These were the best known female pirates. Bonny had a notorious reputation and eloped with Calico Jack Rackham. Read had been posing as a man her entire life and had even been in the British Military. She joined Rackham’s crew and the three of them had a polyamorous relationship. When they were attacked, both women were captured and sentenced to death but stalled their executions by claiming to be pregnant.

Read Less

Number of results:

Number of results: 122

Sort By: A-Z Lowest Z-A Z-A

, currently showing 101 to 120.

The Manor, Hemingford Grey

Address

High Street, Hemingford Grey, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, PE28 9BN

Telephone
01480 463134

diana_boston@hotmail.com

Huntingdon

Hemingford Manor, built circa 1130 and one of the oldest continuously inhabited houses in England, was the home of the author Lucy Boston from 1939 until her death in 1990.

More Details
Cadhay

Address

Ottery St Mary, Devon, EX11 1QT

Telephone
01404 813511

Rupert.th@googlemail.com

Devon

Cadhay is approached by an avenue of lime-trees, and stands in an extensive garden, with herbaceous borders and yew hedges, with excellent views over the original medieval fish ponds.

More Details
Kew Gardens

Address

Kew Green, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AE

Richmond

Since their creation in 1759, the Royal Botanic Gardens have made a significant contribution to the study of plant diversity and economic botany and formed a unique testimony to developments in garden art that were subsequently diffused around the…

More Details
All Saints' Church, Alton Priors

Address

Alton Priors, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SN8 4LB

jrobertson@thecct.org.uk

Salisbury

Mysterious trapdoors, buried Sarsen stones and ancient yew trees

More Details
Minterne Gardens

Address

Minterne Magna, Nr Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 7AU

Telephone
01300 341370

enquiries@minterne.co.uk

Nr Dorchester

Important rhododendron garden with many fine and rare trees, landscaped in 18thC with lakes, cascades and streams. The setting of Great Hintock House in Hardy's "The Woodlanders".

More Details
All Saints' Church, Billesley

Address

Billesley, Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire, B49 6NF

jrobertson@thecct.org.uk

Stratford Upon Avon

A light-filled gem with a Shakespearean connection

More Details
Palace of Westminster

Address

Westminster, London, London, SW1A 0AA

London

The Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey, and St Margaret’s Church together encapsulate the history of one of the most ancient parliamentary monarchies of present times and the growth of parliamentary and constitutional institutions.

More Details
Little Malvern Court

Address

Little Malvern, Nr. Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 4JN

Telephone
07856 035599

visits@littlemalverncourt.co.uk

Nr. Malvern

Prior's Hall, C. 1480, of former Benedictine Monastery. Library, Religious Vestments, Embroideries, Paintings. 10 acre garden - lakes, spring bulbs, blossom, old roses and shrubs.

More Details
Meols Hall

Address

Churchtown, Southport, Merseyside, PR9 7LZ

Telephone
01704 228326

events@meolshall.com

Southport

Meols Hall manor-house and estate have been in the Hesketh family for 27 generations and is still a privately-owned home

More Details
Kimbolton Castle

Address

Kimbolton, Cambridgeshire, PE28 0EA

Telephone
01480 860505

ajb@kimbolton.cambs.sch.uk

Cambridgeshire

Kimbolton Castle has a rich and fascinating history that has seen it develop from a wooden motte and bailey castle in Norman times, into the building it is today - home to Kimbolton School. The family seat of the Dukes of Manchester from 1615 to…

More Details
Wern Isaf

Address

Penmaen Park, Llanfairfechan, Conwy, LL33 0RN

Llanfairfechan

This Arts and Crafts house was built in 1900 by the architect H L North as his family home and contains much of the original furniture and William Morris fabrics.

More Details
1066 Battle Of Hastings, Abbey and

Address

1066 Battle Of Hastings, Abbey and, Battle, Sussex, TN33 0AD

Telephone
01424 775705

customers@english-heritage.org.uk

Sussex

1066 is the year the Normans defeated the English at the Battle of Hastings. Visit the site of this momentous event and Battle Abbey, which was founded by William the Conqueror as penance for the bloodshed and as a memorial for the dead.

More Details
Alderford Watermill

Address

Alderford Street, Sible Hedingham, Essex, CO9 3XH

Telephone
0774 090 1323

gemma.clayton@essex.gov.uk

Sible Hedingham

One of the most complete historic watermills in Essex with most of the original machinery. Restored working water wheel. Open weekends in spring and summer.

More Details
Ickworth House, Park and Gardens

Address

The Rotunda, Horringer, Suffolk, IP29 5QE

Telephone
01284 735270

ickworth@nationaltrust.org.uk

Horringer

Ickworth House, Parkland and Gardens is a unique place created from the vision of an eccentric man – Frederick Hervey, the Earl-Bishop; commissioned to be a magnificent showcase to house his priceless treasures within the ancient deer park and…

More Details
Whittington Court

Address

Whittington, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL54 4HF

Telephone
01242 820556

lucy@whittingtoncourt.co.uk

Cheltenham

Whittington Court is a small Tudor manor house with Jacobean and later additions, set in beautiful Cotswold countryside five miles east of Cheltenham.

More Details
Tiverton Castle

Address

Tiverton, Devon, EX16 6RP

Telephone
01884 253200

info@tivertoncastle.com

Devon

Atmospheric, historic medieval castle originally built 1106 by order of Henry I and later rebuilt down the ages - all ages of architecture from medieval to modern. Interesting displays.

More Details
Capesthorne Hall

Address

Siddington, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 9JY

Telephone
01625 861221

info@capesthorne.com

Macclesfield

Sculptures, paintings, furniture and family monuments. A Georgian chapel, tearooms, gardens, lakes, nature walks and a touring caravan park.

More Details
Wilton House

Address

Wilton, Salisbury, SP2 0BJ

Telephone
01722 746728

tourism@wiltonhouse.com

Salisbury

Whether you come to stroll in the grounds, watch your children let off steam in the adventure playground, or enjoy the art collection in the House, come and enjoy Wilton House.

More Details
Trewithen

Address

Grampound Road, Near Truro, Cornwall, TR2 4DD

Telephone
01726 883647

secretary@trewithenestate.co.uk

Near Truro

Trewithen is an historic estate near Truro, Cornwall. Owned and lived in by the same family for 300 years, it is both private home and national treasure.

More Details
Beaumaris Castle (Cadw)

Address

Beaumaris Castle (Cadw), Castle Street, Beaumaris, Isle of Anglesey, LL58 8AP

Telephone
01248 810361

BeaumarisCastle@wales.gsi.gov.uk

Beaumaris

Beaumaris is the great unfinished masterpiece. It was built as one of the 'iron ring' of North Wales castles by the English monarch, Edward I to stamp his authority on the Welsh.

More Details

Follow Us...

My Planner0

Don't Miss

Don't Miss

Don't Miss

Don't Miss

Places to Visit Search

Places to Stay Search

What's On Search

Places to Visit Search

Places to Stay Search

What's On Search

Places to Stay Search

Places to Visit Search

What's On Search

Golden Age of pirates

History of piracy

History of piracy

1690s-1700

Post Spanish Succession

Pirates vs Privateers

The end of piracy

Best known privateers

Best known British pirates

Number of results:

Address

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Address

Address

Address

Telephone

Address

Address

Address

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Address

Address

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Don't Miss

Places to Visit
Search

Places to Stay
Search

What's On
Search