The exhibition, which is timed to coincide with Kidd’s execution on 23 May 1701 in Wapping, will explore the myths and mysteries surrounding common perceptions of pirates.
Exhibits in display will include Kidd’s last letter with the promise of hidden treasure, a Vivienne Westwood outfit from her 1981 ‘Pirates’ collection and images of the Quedah Merchant ship wreck, the vessel captured by Kidd on January 30, 1698.
Tom Wareham, Curator of Maritime History at the Museum of London Docklands, said the exhibition “will help people understand the close connection between the pirates of the high seas and the London that funded their activities.
“The skull and crossbones may not have fluttered over ships in the Thames, but many of the pirates themselves were here at one time or another. Our most famous pirate, Captain Kidd, was enmeshed in intrigue that involved corrupt MPs and the mighty East India Company. This exhibition will not only tell Kidd’s story but use some of his actual letters and documents to help bring him back to life.”
Pirates: The Captain Kidd Story opens on Friday 20 May 2011 at the Museum of London Docklands and runs until Sunday 30 October 2011.
