The festival, which attracted 11,000 visitors, featured discussions on Portsmouth's long history, including the significant role of women in Tudor times and over 500 years of naval history. Academics and students from the University of Portsmouth's Centre for Port Cities and Maritime Cultures joined other experts to share their findings.
Dr Maria Cannon and her undergraduate History students, Mel Slama-Hardy, Serena Ablett, and Evelyn Blackmore-Tagg, presented research on the connection between women and the Mary Rose in the sixteenth century. They highlighted women's involvement in economic, social, and diplomatic life in Tudor Portsmouth, supplying the ship and providing military intelligence.
Professor Anne Murphy, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), chaired a session on the women of the dockyard. She emphasised the importance of uncovering the voices of those not traditionally recorded in history, stating, 'Women's voices are worth listening to and understanding'.
Other researchers explored themes such as conserving the dockyard for future generations and the city's development influenced by its naval presence. Dr Karl Bell, Co-director of the Centre for Port Cities and Maritime Cultures, chaired the session on the city and the dockyard, encouraging attendees to reconnect with the city's rich history.
The festival included live music, historic vessels, tours, charity stands, and market traders. Participating organisations included the Mary Rose Trust, Portsmouth Historic Quarter, the Royal Navy, and the University of Portsmouth.
