Student and Research Prizes

Are you a student working on maritime history? Apply for our Undergraduate and Postgraduate prizes.

New Researchers Conference

Research degree students and independent scholars are warmly encouraged to share their work at our annual New Researchers Conference.

Bow Lines - Maritime Literary Festival

Posted: Tuesday 8th April 2025

Bow Lines - Maritime Literary Festival

Event date: 6-8 June 2025

Location: Exeter Custom House

 

Tying together fact and fiction in maritime history

Based in Exeter’s historic Custom House and around its Heritage Harbour, Bowlines will explore major themes in maritime literature. These will include:

  • Characters and Characterisation – Inputs both on real characters and creating imagined ones.
  • Disaster – Wars, shipwrecks and the efforts to improve maritime safety.

These will be approached via inputs both from respected maritime historians and well known writers of naval fiction.

The event will have a variety of inputs, ranging from talks to lively panel discussions designed to explore emerging themes in maritime literature.

Tickets can be purchased here: Exeter Corn Exchange Bowlines - Maritime Literature Festival

 

Event Programme  

Friday 6 June

11:30 (Custom House)
Bowlines Launch with Dr. Sam Willis (45mins)

13:30 (Custom House)
Safety at Sea with Kate Jamieson
Chair – Louise Sanger (1hr)

13:30 (Topsham Brewery)
Writing Nautical Fiction (i) with Katie Daysh & Alaric Bond
Chair – David Davies (1hr)

15:00 (Custom House)
The State of Maritime History
Panel discussion with Dr. Sam Willis, David Davies & Jonathan Turner (1hr)

17:00 (Exeter Guildhall)
Civic Reception (2hrs)

Saturday 7 June

10:00 (Custom House)
Plenary Session with Hannah Cunliffe (45mins)

11:30 (Custom House)
Writing Nautical Fiction (ii) with Chris Durbin, Philip K Allan
Chair – David Davies (1hr)

11.30 (Topsham Brewery)
Women at Sea with Jo Stanley & Elaine Murphy (1hr)

13:30 (Custom House)
Why Ships Sank with Roy Adkins & Lesley Adkins (1hr)

13:30 (Topsham Brewery)
Panel Discussion Whither Maritime History (1hr)

15:00 (Custom House)
Panel Discussion: Whither Nautical Fiction (1hr)

17:00 (Exeter Guildhall)
Society for Nautical Research AGM – SNR members only

18:30 (Royal Albert Memorial Museum)
SNR Reception & Dinner*
Keynote Speaker Nicholas A.M. Rodger
*Additional fee, SNR members only


Heritage Harbour Festival

Sunday June 8th is Exeter’s annual Heritage Harbour Festival where traditional vessels and a range of other historic transport owners come along to join singers and musicians, creative artists and a multitude of the public to celebrate the city’s historic harbour.

Download Event Schedule (with web links)