Exeter Heritage Harbour Celebrations 2023

Exeter boasts one of just a handful of Heritage Harbours in the UK, which are places of historic maritime significance that retain original features, buildings and facilities which help connect the public to the area’s maritime past.  To celebrate Exeter's national designation as a 'Heritage Harbour' the city is hosting a series of maritime events this year.

The year of celebrations launches this May with a cultural festival, culminating on Sunday 28 May and featuring events for all of the family, many of them completely free. Expect live cannon firing, shanty bands and live music, children’s activities and art workshops and performances. There will also be water sports taster sessions, as well as talks and author events. 

Events will be taking place outside in the Transit Shed and indoors in the Exeter Custom House. There will also be performances in the nearby Cygnet Theatre. Most importantly, participants will also be about to find out more about heritage boats and their fascinating place in Exeter’s maritime history.   

Closing the celebrations, there will be a weekend of events on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 September. To mark the arrival of the sailing barge ‘Snark’ and the relaunch of the fishing smack ‘Britannia,’ there will be a weekend of “general jollification,” including an historic transport event, and live music, including the premier of a new shanty song, ‘Rise up Britannia.’

 Jon Bell, Chair – Exeter Heritage Harbour Group said: "We are hugely excited about the range of fantastic events that are planned for this summer at Exeter Quay. For the first time for many years historic vessels will return to the basin as part of our Heritage Harbour Festival, celebrating its status of one of only four national Heritage Harbours."

 To mark each of these events, the Exeter Canal authorities will be arranging for convoys vessels to journey from the Exe estuary to the heart of Exeter City on each occasion. The historic canal is not frequently used these days, so this is a wonderful opportunity to make a highly unusual inland voyage and join in the celebrations. The usual fees for using the canal will be waived on these occasions.

Full programme

Wednesday 24 May 

Jack Tar

Two of the country’s most eminent maritime historians, Roy and Lesley Adkins, share a lively and fascinating account of the day-to-day lives of ordinary seamen in Nelson’s Navy.
The Mint Methodist Church, Fore Street. 10.45am. £3 (for non-Forum members). Pay on door.

Quay Words presents Kim Sherwood

Literature Works welcome Kim Sherwood to the Exeter Custom House for a reading of her latest novel, A Wild and True Relation, followed by a Q&A. Combining smuggling and literary history, it fits perfectly into the Heritage Harbour programme.
The Exeter Custom House. 6.30pm. £4/£3 concs. Book here.

Thursday 25 and Friday 26 May  

Inland Haven

“Exeter’s lost route to the sea” will be celebrated through music, songs, stories and pictures. Expect an evening as fascinating, rousing and noisy as was the harbour itself. “The best live show I have seen in years!”
Cygnet Theatre. 7.30pm. £10 Book here

Saturday 27 May  

Historic Quayside Walk

Presented by the Exeter Red Coat Guides.  
Meet at the Exeter Custom House. 2pm – 3.30pm.

Memories of Exeter Quay & Canal

An illustrated talk on how ships used the canal to reach the quay, 1830-1930, featuring photographs from the collection of David Clement, founder of South West Maritime History Society. 
The Custom House. 2.30pm – 3.15pm.  

Inland Haven

Your last chance to see this acclaimed production (see above).
Cygnet Theatre. 7.30pm. £10. Book here

Sunday 28 May

Main Festival Sunday

Bang goes the Quay

Throughout the day The Trafalgar Gun Company will be firing live cannons on the quayside.
The Quayside. 11am – 4pm.

The return of the ‘Blonde Bombshell’

‘Diana Dors’ will recreate her 1957 appearance, when she opened The Prospect Inn.
The Prospect Inn. 2pm

Songs of the Sea

Live music with a maritime theme, presented by The Out of Tunas, Mariners Away and The Custom House Crew.
The Transit Shed. 11am – 4pm.

Willow Workshop

Join the Weird Sticks CIC team to create your own ‘fish on a rod’ or ‘boat on a stick’ made from willow.
The Transit Shed. 11am – 4pm. Free.

Historic Quayside Walk

Presented by the Exeter Red Coat Guides.  
Meet at the Exeter Custom House. 11am – 12.30pm.

Ahoy Polloi!

Join Burn the Curtain Theatre for a fun family outdoor performance. A letter brings trouble for three simple sailors – can you help this motley crew get ready for the arrival of the inimitable Captain Peacock?

Help them design an extravagant new sailing vessel and then pose for a genuine glass plate photograph, whilst surrounded by the great and good of Victorian society.  
The Exeter Custom House. 11am.

Maritime Market

Stalls include Topsham Museum, Exeter Red Coat Guides, South West Maritime History Society, Exeter Civic Society, Friends of Exeter Ship Canal, Exeter Canal & Quay Trust, Exeter’s West Quarter Project, Britannia Sailing Trust.
Custom House and Transit Shed. 11am – 4pm.

The Legend of the Custom House

Join Art Work Exeter for a family-friendly drop-in animation session. Bark, Bells, Brush Heads, Caraway Seeds, Coal, Drain Pipes, Frying Pans… Withies, Wire and Wool! Help animate an A-Z of goods from the Toll Table of 1829. The finished animation will form part of The Legend of Custom House artwork showing from 13 June as part of Art Week Exeter.
The Custom House. 11am – 4pm.  

Walkabout with Promenade Promotions

Throughout the day, look out for Captain Ginger and Cedric and Sally the cheeky puppet seagulls.
Quayside. 11am – 4pm.

Cathedral to Quay Walk

Presented by Exeter Red Coat Guides.
Meet at the Hooker statue, Cathedral Green. 2pm – 3.30pm.

Light up The Custom House

Enjoy images of the Harbour’s past projected onto the Exeter Custom House, including five brand-new artworks created by Richard Parker. Accompanied by music and song from The Custom House Crew.
Exeter Custom House. 9pm.
 

For the latest news on these events and others taking place on the quayside, visit www.exetercustomhouse.co.uk