Excitment as Portsmouth Historic Dockyard launches free family festival

PORTSMOUTH'S rich maritime heritage will be on proud display at a new family Summer Festival.
A new family festival is being held at the Historic Dockyard in PortsmouthA new family festival is being held at the Historic Dockyard in Portsmouth
A new family festival is being held at the Historic Dockyard in Portsmouth

Boathouse 4, in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, is staging the free three-day bonanza, beginning on Friday.

Tours of the cathedral-sized boathouse, demonstrations of Tudor shipwright skills, rope making, music and performances are just some of the activities on offer at the site’s first Summer Festival.

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There will be a model boat display with pyrotechnics from the Portsmouth Model Boat Display Team on the Mast Pond outside Action Stations.

Marian Smith, organiser of the event, said: ‘We’re really excited to be launching this new festival.

‘There will be something for everyone – families, and wooden boat enthusiasts.

‘We want to give visitors of all ages a flavour of what goes on at Boathouse 4, where students learn the unique craft of traditional boatbuilding.

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‘Our students share this amazing space with the Forgotten Craft exhibition, which pays tribute to small craft, the backbone of the Royal Navy.

‘Also, I don’t want you to miss Midships Cookhouse, which has stunning harbour views. It is now open and is a great spot for lunch or afternoon tea.’

The Summer Festival takes place between 10am until 5pm on all three days.

Visitors to Boathouse 4 will have a chance to see historic vessels like Lively Lady and Dolly Varden, as well as seeing demonstrations of all the skills that go in to maintaining and building the boats.

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There will be music, singing and theatricals from Portsea’s Groundlings Theatre.

And on Saturday and Sunday revellers will be treated to a waterside market.

John Rawlinson, director of visitor experience at the dockyard, said: ‘There is so much happening here at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and the Summer Festival is a superb addition to our calendar.’

Other paid-for attractions include the newly-launched blockbuster exhibition, 36 Hours: Jutland 1916, The Battle That Won The War, as well as the stunning new-look Mary Rose Museum.

For more details, see historicdockyard.co.uk