CHRISTCHURCH’S smuggling past was remembered as hundreds of schoolchildren ‘sailed’ through the High Street with their own ‘war ship’.

The parade formed part of the new Christchurch Heritage Festival, with this year’s theme based on the impact of smuggling on the town in the 18th century and titled ‘Watch the Wall – Smugglers’, which is taken from Rudyard Kipling’s poem ‘A Smuggler’s Song’.

The festival, which runs until the end of the month, is remembering the Battle of Mudeford – a fierce conflict between smugglers and customs and excise officers in 1784.

At yesterday’s festival launch, over 200 children from Christchurch Junior School, Christchurch Infant School, Somerford Primary School, and The Priory School ‘set sail’ with their own version of HMS Orestes, the sloop-of-war involved in the Battle of Mudeford.

It set off from Saxon Square before voyaging down the High Street and arriving at Christchurch Quay.

Local artist Heidi Stellar worked with youngsters at each school to create the ship, as well as a number of seagulls, which flew on poles overhead.

She said: “It was really good fun. There was a nice, happy atmosphere at the parade. The sun came out, and as I looked back along the High Street, I could see flocks of seagulls and the sails of the ship. The children were singing Drunken Sailor.”

It is hoped, if successful, the event will become an annual one, focusing on different periods of the borough’s rich history.

The organisers are represented by Christchurch Library, the Red House Museum, The Regent Centre, Christchurch council and local historians, writers and artists.

The events planned include walks, talks, competitions and re-enactments, including the Battle of Mudeford.

Unique for this year’s festival is to try to trace descendants of local smugglers and revenue men.

In the 18th and early 19th centuries the smuggling of highly taxed goods was rife and Christchurch was the epicentre for these activities due to its beaches, harbour and two rivers – and lack of law enforcement.