Raglan Castle came under siege last weekend, but not by Parliamentarians; this time it was a band of cut-throats and buccaneers who weighed anchor and ran up the Jolly Roger at the medieval fortress.

Storms on the horizons failed to deter landlubbers on Saturday who gathered to watch Blackheart, Jack Sparrow and crew heave-to and pillage the castle, capturing King George III, holding a mock trial and execution at the castle’s first ever pirate festival.

Unfortunately the Sunday activities were cancelled due to a waterlogged castle grounds, but Raglan Castle custodian, Jill Cale said over 700 visitors were welcomed on Saturday: “If the weather had been better, I imagine we would have had thousands through the gates” she added, “we had a nice steady flow of visitors all day on Saturday.”

As well as the chance to meet your favourite pirate, there were stalls and the chance to bag some ‘pieces of eight’ at the souvenir stands, as well as face painting, a hog roast and pastie stand.