A super exhibition about pirates is opening at the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth. We went last week and found it very interesting. I couldn't believe there were even two female pirates. One of them wandered the coast of Cornwall.
Piracy and smuggling have been a part of the Helford River for centuries. Streams and tidal rivers allowed the French to use the tides to transport wine barrels up the river and easily create creeks where smugglers could take the wine.
There are stories of pirates retiring to Helford Village. You never know who might be sitting next to you in the Shipwrights Arms!
Helford's most famous privateer is the French pirate Jean-Benoit Aubéry, created by novelist Daphne du Maurier in her novel 'Frenchman's Creek'. Like Anne Bonney, who after getting married and moving to the Caribbean, fell in love with a pirate and became a female pirate herself, like Du Maurier's heroine, Madame Donna.
Daphne du Maurier also honeymooned at Frenchman's Creek and may have met Percy 'Powder' Thurburn, who, like her heroine Lady Donna, fled high society London life for a quieter life in Helford. When she meets a French pirate, she joins him in raiding Lord Durgan's house at night and taking her tea with him during the day. The character of Lord Durgan was probably inspired by the Fox family who owned Glendurgan.
Percy's boat 'The Iron Duke' was left on the beach at Frenchman's Creek, perhaps after a few rums he decided to end his journey.
Relive tales of pirate days gone by on one of the Budock Vean Hotel's Koru Kayaking Helford Adventures, Koru Paddleboard Adventures or Helford River Cruises. We won't force you to walk the plank. But you'll want to anchor and enjoy some wild swimming!
Oh, and don't forget that a beautiful tall ship will soon be arriving in Helford on August 15-18!