Greenwich’s iconic former merchant vessel, the Cutty Sark, held its fifth annual Sea Shanty Festival to mark its 156th birthday.
The ship-turned-museum invited a number of artists to the event on November 22, ranging from bands to poets to school choirs to perform at the event, alongside hosting sea shanty workshops.
Tom McNulty, a member of one of the Cutty Sark’s resident sea shanty groups, the HogEye Men, highlighted the importance of preserving the tradition of sea shanties.
He said: “It’s not only such a great time to sing the songs, but also it’s such a rich part of this country’s history.
“To lose that heritage and that legacy, which is incidentally so much fun to do, would be a real shame.”
The Cutty Sark is the world’s last surviving ‘tea clipper’ – a ship designed to ‘race’ tea from China to Britain – and is a key part of the Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Featured Image Credit: Maya Sgaravato-Grant
Join the discussion