Barn Pool Excavations: Barns, Battlefields, and Shoreline Secrets

Wednesday 27th to Sunday 31st August 2025

The Barn Pool, Mount Edgcumbe, Cornwall

This exciting Plymouth Sound National Marine Park-funded Community Archaeology Project invites 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.

Click here for more information about the Barn Pool Excavations .

Plymouth Castle Tours

Tours run weekly

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 and Shows

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
  • Studying the hidden maritime history of Plymouth .
• What's in Plymouth Sound National Marine Park?
  • A tale of shipwrecks, marine life and junk!.
• Plymouth Castle and Barbican Rediscovered
  • The story of Playmouth's Castle Quadrate, Barbican and Fort
• The story of HM Submarine A7
  • Sunk in 1914 in Whitsand Bay, near Plymouth .
• The life and loss of the Royal Navy frigate Amethyst
  • Wrecked in 1811 in Jennycliff Bay, Plymouth .
• Diving the shipwrecks around Plymouth
  • A quick tour of the many sunken shipwrecks in and around Plymouth .
• The SS James Eagan Layne
  • The story of the U.S. Liberty Ship sunk in Whitsand Bay, near Plymouth .
• Royal Navy Shipwrecks near Plymouth
  • Royal Navy ship losses for over 400 years.
• Aircraft crash sites in and Around Plymouth Sound .
  • Over 35 aircraft crash sites in and around Plymouth Sound.
• The Cattewater wreck
  • A 16th Century merchant ship in the Cattewater .
• The cannons on the Mewstone
  • An 18th century mystery shipwreck

To enquire about a presentation from The SHIPS Project team please send us a message below.

IMASS International Shipwreck Conference

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 .

2025 Previous Events

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 .