A HISTORIC house turned into a playground for pirates this weekend.

Every year, Tredegar House hosts Pirate Day on the bank holiday Monday but this year it became a three day event. Visitors turned up in their best buccaneer costumes, had the chance to learn how to speak pirate and took part in a pirate treasure trail.

There were also activities to help children start their pirate training such as three legged races and balancing tests. To become a fully trained pirate, people had to walk the plank and tick off each activity.

General manager of Tredegar House Rhiannon Gamble said: “Pirate Day has been a tradition at Tredegar House for many years. It has been under the council and now the National Trust has taken over it.

“It usually takes place just on the bank holiday but we thought we would give it a go for the three days this year so people can have a go at ‘pirating’.

“It (the event) is really important to us as a team and to the community because it’s happened for so long and it’s such a good day. It’s a different way for us to sort of bring the house and gardens alive.” “We get lots of people that might come to us on a regular weekend but they might come to us this weekend just for this event.”

One of the visitors to the house on Saturday, Peter Hopkins, came with his wife, five-year-old son Ewan and his friend George.

Mr Hopkins, of Barry, said: “We are National Trust members and we have come out here every year since Ewan was a little boy. We are regular visitors to Tredegar House because it’s a good place to get out but we try to make the Pirate Day every year as well.

“It is a great day out for the kids and they love it. There’s loads of things to do for them.”

Mr Hopkins’s son Ewan said his favourite part of the day was buying swords and his friend George said the best bit was getting his pirate badge at the end.

For more information on the Pirate Day, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/tredegar-house/whats-on