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 1 to 20.

Haddon Hall

Address

Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1LA

Telephone
01629 812855

info@haddonhall.co.uk

Bakewell

Haddon Hall stands as one of England’s most enchanting and best-preserved fortified manor houses. With origins dating back to the 11th century, this remarkable hall offers visitors a rare opportunity to step into a world where history and romance…

More Details
Lancing College Chapel

Address

Lancing, West Sussex, BN15 0RW

Telephone
01273 465949

verger@lancing.org.uk

West Sussex

Lancing College Chapel is a magnificent Gothic Revival chapel set in the South Downs National Park and is the largest school chapel in the world - the height of the nave is 90ft to the apex of the vault. It was founded by Nathaniel Woodard in 1868…

More Details
Arbury Hall

Address

Arbury, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, CV10 7PT (CV10 7NF FOR SATNAVS)

Telephone
01676 540529

info@arburyestate.co.uk

Nuneaton

Known as the 'Gothic Gem of the Midlands', Arbury Hall has been the ancestral home of the Newdigate family since the 16th Century.

More Details
Fullers Mill Garden

Address

West Stow, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, IP28 6HD

Telephone
01284 728888

fullersmillgarden@perennial.org.uk

Bury St. Edmunds

This award-winning seven-acre garden is an enchanting waterside oasis set in Bury St Edmunds in the heart of Suffolk. It combines dappled woodland with a plantsman’s collection of shrubs, perennials, lilies and marginal plants to create a year-round…

More Details
St Mary's House and Gardens

Address

The Street, Bramber, Steyning, West Sussex, BN44 3WE

Telephone
01903 816205

info@stmarysbramber.co.uk

Steyning

St Mary’s, an enchanting historic pilgrim inn, c1450, in the downland village of Bramber, West Sussex. Many thousands of visitors admire its picturesque charm and enjoy its atmosphere of friendliness and welcome.

More Details
Broughton Castle

Address

Banbury, Oxon, OX15 5EB

Telephone
01295 276070

info@broughtoncastle.com

Oxon

Medieval Manor House later transformed into a Tudor Mansion, surrounded by a wide moat and parkland.

More Details
The Laskett Garden

Address

Laskett Lane, Much Birch, Hereford, Herefordshire, HR2 8HZ

Telephone
01432 805454

thelaskett@perennial.org.uk

Hereford

Step into a creative floral archive where every flower has a story and every sculpture reminisces a tale of creativity.

More Details
Lamport Hall & Gardens

Address

Lamport Hall, Lamport, Northamptonshire, NN6 9HD

Telephone
01604 686272

admin@lamporthall.co.uk

Lamport

Lamport Hall is a hidden gem in Northamptonshire boasting wonderful gardens, stunning architecture, an impressive art and furniture collection and a full calendar of events.

More Details
Holkham Hall

Address

Holkham Estate, Wells-next- the-Sea, Norfolk, NR23 1AB

Telephone
01328 713111

info@holkham.co.uk

Wells-next- the-Sea

Steeped in history, Holkham Hall has the perfect location, surrounded by acres of rolling
parkland rich in wildlife and the nearby north Norfolk coast with its stunning beach.

More Details
York Gate Garden

Address

Back Church Lane, Adel, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS16 8DW

Telephone
0113 2678240

yorkgate@perennial.org.uk

Adel, Leeds

This magical one-acre garden near Leeds with Grade II National Heritage status is inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement. Diverse plant combinations show through a series of inspirational garden rooms.

More Details
Ludlow Castle

Address

Castle Square, Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 1AY

Telephone
01584 874465

info@ludlowcastle.com

Ludlow

Built in the 11th Century as a border stronghold, Ludlow Castle has been involved in some of the most significant moments of British history.

More Details
Chillingham Castle

Address

Northumberland, NE66 5NJ

Telephone
01668 215359

enquiries@chillingham-castle.com

Medieval fortress with Tudor additions, torture chamber, shop, dungeon, tearoom, woodland walks, furnished rooms and topiary garden.

More Details
Mr Straw’s House

Address

Endcliffe Villa, Blyth Grove, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, S81 0JG

Telephone
01909 482380

mrstrawshouse@nationaltrust.org.uk

Worksop

Most National Trust properties inspire thoughts of historic mansions, wealth and grandeur. However, tucked away in a private cul-de-sac in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, you’ll find Mr Straw’s House; the National Trust’s first small domestic property,…

More Details
Knebworth House

Address

Knebworth Park, Old Knebworth, Knebworth, Hertfordshire, SG3 6PY

Telephone
01438 812 661

info@knebworthhouse.com

Knebworth

et in 250 acres of beautiful rolling Hertfordshire countryside with 28 acres of Formal Gardens, Knebworth House has been home to the Lytton family for over 19 generations, making for an extraordinary walk through 500 years of local and British…

More Details
Cottesbrooke Hall & Gardens

Address

Cottesbrooke, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN6 8PF

Telephone
01604 505808

welcome@cottesbrooke.co.uk

Northampton

Dating from 1702 the Hall’s beauty is matched by the magnificence of the gardens and the excellence of the picture, furniture and porcelain collections.

More Details
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

Address

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Trevor Basin, Wrexham, Clwyd, LL20 7TY

Wrexham

Situated in north-eastern Wales, the 18 kilometre long Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal is a feat of civil engineering of the Industrial Revolution.

More Details
Saltaire

Address

Bradford

Bradford

Saltaire is an exceptionally complete and well-preserved industrial village of the second half of the 19th century. Its textile mills, public buildings, and workers’ housing are built in a harmonious style of high architectural quality and the urban…

More Details
Mannington Estate

Address

Mannington Hall, Norwich, Norfolk, NR11 7BB

Telephone
01263 584175

admin@walpoleestate.co.uk

Norwich

Beautiful gardens with lake, trees and shrubs surround a medieval moated manor (not open). Feature trees, shrubs, roses. Country walks and trails with lovely views.

More Details
Syon House and Park

Address

Syon House and Park, Syon House, Syon Park, Brentford, TW8 8JF

Telephone
020 8560 0882

info@syonpark.co.uk

Syon Park

Syon House was started by Lord Protector Somerset in 1547 and is built on the site of a medieval abbey, first excavated by "Time Team". There have been gardens at Syon since the 15th Century.

More Details
Jurassic Coast

Address

The Dorset and East Devon Coast has an outstanding combination of globally significant geological and geomorphological features. The property comprises eight sections along 155km of largely undeveloped coast.

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

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Address

Address

Address

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Address

Don't Miss

Places to Visit
Search

Places to Stay
Search

What's On
Search