Events
SHIPS Pop-Up Museum at the Barbican
Saturday 4th July 2026, 08:00 to 16:00
Barbican Landing Stage, The Barbican, Plymouth
We will be at the Barbican Landing stage with Plymouth Cruise Ambassadors - Volunteers and Cattewater Harbour Plymouth with The SHIPS Project stand, pop-up museum, artefacts, and publications to share with local Plymouthians and cruise ship passengers arriving in Plymouth from Ritz-Carlton Evrima
.
Please join us next to the welcoming party on the Barbican Landing Stage from 8am - 4pm where you can learn about Plymouth's Maritime History by being able to touch a piece of history recovered from local waters!
No need to book, just turn up and say hello! More information 
Plymouth Castle Site Tour #1
Saturday 4th July 2026, 11:00 to 12:30
Meet at the Barbican Landing Stage, The Barbican, Plymouth
The tour tells the story of the early defences of Plymouth, starting with the Barbican Blockhouse and chain boom built around 1300AD, and the first Fort built to defend Sutton Harbour. The raids by Breton fleets during the Hundred Years' War destroyed the first defences of Plymouth, so the bigger Castle Quadrate was built nearby on higher ground. The Castle’s role in the Spanish Armada is described, and its later demise, having been replaced by the Hoe Fort ordered by Sir Francis Drake. The end of the English Civil War in 1651 saw the end of the Castle Quadrate in its deliberate demolition by King Charles II and its replacement by the much larger Royal Citadel. The hour-long tour around the Castle site visits the locations mentioned in the story and shows the few remains of the defences that can be seen today.
We will meet at 10.45 am at the SHIPS Pop-up Museum at the Barbican Landing Stage. Tickets must be booked in advance.
Plymouth Castle Site Tour #2
Saturday 4th July 2026, 14:00 to 15:30
Meet at the Barbican Landing Stage, The Barbican, Plymouth
The tour tells the story of the early defences of Plymouth, starting with the Barbican Blockhouse and chain boom built around 1300AD, and the first Fort built to defend Sutton Harbour. The raids by Breton fleets during the Hundred Years' War destroyed the first defences of Plymouth, so the bigger Castle Quadrate was built nearby on higher ground. The Castle’s role in the Spanish Armada is described, and its later demise, having been replaced by the Hoe Fort ordered by Sir Francis Drake. The end of the English Civil War in 1651 saw the end of the Castle Quadrate in its deliberate demolition by King Charles II and its replacement by the much larger Royal Citadel. The hour-long tour around the Castle site visits the locations mentioned in the story and shows the few remains of the defences that can be seen today.
We will meet at 1.45 pm at the SHIPS Pop-up Museum at the Barbican Landing Stage. Tickets must be booked in advance.
Discover Mudlarking
Sunday 5th July 2026, 15:00 to 17:00
Meet at the Mayflower Steps, The Barbican, Plymouth
Join Mallory from The SHIPS Project and have a day of discovering mudlarking on the shores of the Cattewater. We will learn about the maritime landscape of the Barbican and Cattewater, from Plymouth as a Bronze age port, to the present day. We will get our hands muddy on the shores of the Cattewater looking for history thats been hidden by the tide. After mudlarking we will have a post mudlark chat about what you have found, identify it, date it and explain its context and why its here on Plymouth shores.
Mallory is a maritime archaeologist with 20 years experience in finds identification, maritime and terrestrial archaeology. She has worked in many countries and has been trained by DPAA/POW as a scientific recovery expert.
We will meet at 3pm at the Mayflower steps and we on the foreshore till about 4:30pm. Tickets must be booked in advance.
Devonport Open Days
Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th July 2026
HM Naval Base, Devonport
Please join the SHIPS Project at Devonport Open Days. We will have the SHIPS Project pop-up stand and museum where you can learn all about the maritime heritage of Plymouth Sound!
The 2026 Open Days for members of the public will be held on Friday 24 July, shining a spotlight on the people, skills and sovereign capability that keep the Royal Navy operational and the country secure. Families of those working on site are invited to join on Thursday 23 July - a separate booking process has been shared with those eligible. Devonport is the UK’s largest naval base and the sole site for the deep maintenance and refit of the Royal Navy’s nuclear-powered submarines. Every day, thousands of highly skilled engineers, technicians and defence specialists work behind the walls of the historic site to maintain critical assets and ensure the fleet is ready to deploy at a moment’s notice.
Hosted jointly by Babcock and the Royal Navy, these events provide an excellent opportunity to welcome thousands of visitors to a unique workplace and provide them with a glimpse into how that mission is delivered, right here on Plymouth’s doorstep. The action-packed events will include an exciting range of hands-on STEM based activities to get involved with, as well as unique experiences to enjoy, military assets to explore*, along with displays and demonstrations to watch.
Barn Pool Excavation 2026: Back to the Trenches
Monday 10th to Sunday 16th August 2026
The Barn Pool beach, Mount Edgcumbe, Cornwall
This exciting community Archaeology Project is back for another year, we invite people of all ages to get involved in real-life archaeology experiences, including training days, excavations and uncovering local history. Whether you are a history enthusiast or simply curious, this is a unique opportunity to engage with the past and learn new skills, all for FREE.
This year we will be revisiting the buried medieval building we found last year, then extending the trenches to uncover the walls. We hope to learn more about the building and to find out if it really is the chapel from the lost village of West Stonehouse.
Click here for more information about the Barn Pool Excavations .
IMASS International Shipwreck Conference
Annually, held on the first weekend in February
University of Plymouth
The SHIPS Project supports the International Shipwreck Conference that has run annually in Plymouth for over 40 years by IMASS.
IMASS promote the interest of all sections of society who have a shared interest in Shipwrecks, especially those of the amateur diver and non academic researchers and historians who undertake the majority of the work on the UK’s Protected Wrecks and the research on our maritime heritage.
Click here for more information about the International Shipwreck Conference .
Public Tours by The SHIPS Project
Plymouth Castle Site Tours
Tours run by request
The Barbican, Plymouth
SHIPS Project Director and archaeologist Mallory Haas runs tours around the Barbican area of Plymouth, the site of Plymouth Castle and the Barbican Fort.
Click here for more information about the Plymouth Castle Tours .
Plymouth History Tours
Tours run by request
The Barbican, Plymouth
SHIPS Project Director and archaeologist Mallory Haas runs tours around the Barbican area of Plymouth, the site of Plymouth Castle and the Barbican Fort.
Click here for more information about the Plymouth History Tours .
Public Talks by The SHIPS Project
We like to do talks for groups, clubs and organisations on many aspects of the maritime history and of the area, on the work of the SHIPS Project and on cleaning up Plymouth Sound. We also can bring our stand to shows and events in the region.
Some of the subjects we can present about include:
- The SHIPS Project
- What's in Plymouth Sound National Marine Park?
- A tale of shipwrecks, marine life and junk!.
- Plymouth Castle and Barbican Rediscovered
- The story of HM Submarine A7
- The life and loss of the Royal Navy frigate Amethyst
- Diving the shipwrecks around Plymouth
- The SS James Eagan Layne
- Royal Navy Shipwrecks near Plymouth
- Aircraft crash sites in and Around Plymouth Sound .
- The Cattewater wreck
- The cannons on the Mewstone
To enquire about a presentation from The SHIPS Project team please send us a message below.
Previous Events
SHIPS Underwater Explorer Course
Sunday 31st May 2026
Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, The Barbican, Plymouth
This course for divers aims to improve skills in underwater exploration and investigation of seabed features, shipwrecks and marine habitats. The skills are aimed at maritime archaeology fieldwork, but they also have use in marine science and seabed cleanup operations. The course is suitable for both avocational and professional divers qualified to BSAC Sports Diver and above.
Click here for more information about the SHIPS Underwater Explorer course
Green Man Festival
Saturday 23rd May to Sunday 24th May 2026
Mount Edgcumbe House and Country Park, Cornwall
This fantastic family friendly FREE to enter event is back for another year! The Green Man event is a celebration of renewal and the cyclical nature of life.
We will have the SHIPS Project stand up and running with free activities such as making your own treasure chart of Plymouth and learning about the maritime history in Plymouth Sound. We will also have the Barn Pool Dig excavation material on display and a sign-up for how you can participate this year!
There will be plenty of live music with bands playing throughout the weekend, we also have a delicious selection of food stalls and a refreshment tent at the event offering something for all tastes. There are gift and craft stalls to indulge in a little retail therapy. Plus entertainment for the children with bouncy castles, rides and street entertainers!
The event is free to enter and there is plenty of all day parking available close to the event for £5.00 per vehicle. Don’t want to drive? then why not catch the ferry from Stonehouse or the Barbican directly to the Park.
Tales of the Sea Lecture Series
January to May 2025
Club 27, Plymouth
The SHIPS Project lecture series Tales of The Sea is a selection of inspirational and informative talks about the sea; how we work, play and interact with the sea and how our actions or lack of action affect the marine environment. The talks are on important subjects we should be discussing about our seas and oceans.
Our speakers are pushing boundaries and are leaders in their field, they will talk about their passions and their work related to the sea. These talks are designed to raise awareness and create a narrative about maritime subjects and how they relate to you, bringing people together in an environment that allows inquisitive discussion.
Click here for more information about the Tales of the Sea lectures .
Liberty 80 Conference
22nd March 2025
University of Plymouth Marine Station
In 2015 The SHIPS Project marked the 70th anniversary of the loss of the US Liberty ship SS James Eagan Layne with a research project and the creation of a website. We are celebrating the 80th anniversary in March 2025 as the 'Liberty 80' project and are holding a one day public conference to celebrate the life of this ship.
Click here for more information about the Liberty80 Conference .
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