• Search

  • Mayflower400 partner destinations:

Plymouth, England

The Mayflower and Speedwell were 300 miles clear of Land's End when the smaller ship once more began leaking badly and couldn't risk continuing. They turned about for Plymouth.

By this time, the cramped, damp and miserable passengers had already spent up to six weeks at sea basically getting nowhere, with a fair wind and good fortune they would have hoped to be closing on their destination by then. The Speedwell was finally declared unfit for the journey. Some of the Pilgrims dropped out; the remainder crowded onto the Mayflower, which required re-provisioning, despite funds running low.

She left on 16 September with up to 30 crew and 102 passengers on board. Just under half of them were Separatists, the rest were 'economic migrants' - skilled tradespeople sent by the investors to help build the new colony.

It is believed the Pilgrims received a warm welcome in Plymouth. Those that did not live on board ship probably stayed in or visited houses around the quay such as Island House and the Elizabethan House. These buildings still stand today.

Island House, situated on Southside Street, dates from between 1572 and 1600 and is reputed to be one of the houses the Pilgrims were entertained in prior their departure for the New World.

The Elizabethan House, situated on New Street, was called London House when it was built in the 1580s. It may have been the Plymouth offices of the London Company of Virginia. Today it is called the Elizabethan House because it was built in the time of Queen Elizabeth I.

The Protestant community were also sympathetic to the Pilgrims cause. Plymouth had a long Protestant tradition and the port had been previously used as a base for fighting Protestant England's war against Catholic Europe.

Furthermore, Plymouth people were deeply interested in the Pilgrims destination. When the Speedwell and Mayflower anchored in Plymouth, many families in the town had seen their men sail off to fishing grounds in New England and Newfoundland. They were probably aware too that the end of August was too late to set sail across the Atlantic and their men were due to return home.

The ship-builders in Plymouth said the Speedwell was unfit to cross the Atlantic, the Mayflower would therefore have to travel alone. There was not enough room for everyone on board one ship but, by then, some Pilgrims had already lost heart or were simply too weak and sick to continue the journey by sea

Visiting Plymouth

Plymouth - Britain's Ocean City

Plymouth has a reputation as a centre for voyage, discovery and military importance. For more than a thousand years the spectacular waterfront has been a port of call or point of departure for adventurers, emigrants, merchant traders, soldiers and sailors. Including of course the departure point of the Mayflower, marked by the Mayflower Steps.

The stunning views over Plymouth Sound from the Hoe will literally take your breath away. Take a boat trip our into the Sound - as the Pilgrims did - for amazing views back over the city.

Plymouth today is a melting pot of historical sites, memorials and museums - alongside a vibrant cultural scene, stunning places to eat and some of England's finest beaches are never far away!

Sightseeing in Plymouth is easily done of foot - explore the Barbican, Sutton Harbour, Royal William Yard and the Hoe. Volunteer tour guides 'One Small Candle' offer a friendly meet and greet service and act as Pilgrim Ambassadors.  

When in Devon - a cream tea is a must!

Also, visitors should head over the Tamar Bridge into Poldark's Cornwall - for more fabulous coastline, great seafood restaurants and attractions including the Eden Project.

 

Plymouth Mayflower Highlights

  • Mayflower Events
  • Attractions
  • Accommodation

03-31 Jan 20

Mayflower 400 - Get Active in January

Plymouth, England

14 Jan 20

Mayflower 400 - New Year, New Me

Plymouth, England

16 Jan 20

Directions Screening 2: Future Archives

Plymouth, England

01-29 Feb 20

Mayflower 400 - Get Active in February

Plymouth, England

20 Feb 20

Directions Screening 3: Utopian Landscapes

Plymouth, England

28 Feb 20

We Are Here

Plymouth, England

15 Feb 20

Seth Lakeman: A Pilgrim's Tale Tour (Plymouth)

Plymouth, England

21 Feb 20

Creation Station Craft Workshop - Bill's

Plymouth, England

01 Jun 20

Mayflower Marine Tech Expo

Plymouth, England

24 Jun 20

Plymouth and District Organists’ Association

Plymouth, England

17 Jun 20

Plymouth Symphony Orchestra

Plymouth, England

16-20 Jun 20

This Land

Plymouth, England

20 Jun 20

Stamp Exhibition and Collectors Fair

Plymouth, England
Smeatons Tower Plymouth Hoe

01 Jun 21

University of Plymouth: Britain and the World 2020 Conference

Plymouth, England

01-30 Jun 20

Mayflower 400 - Get Active in June

Plymouth, England

19 Jun 20

Sir Tom Jones in Concert

Plymouth, England

06 Jun 20

Dance the Mayflower Away

Plymouth, England

13 Jun 20

The Imagination Museum: Mayflower 400

Plymouth, England

17 Jun 20

Devon Summer School Games

Plymouth, England

26-28 Jun 20

UK Environmental Law Association Annual Conference

Plymouth, England

05 Jul 20

Plymouth Philharmonic Choir

Plymouth, England

06 Jul-02 Aug 20

Settlement

Plymouth, England

25 Jul 20

Roots Up! by Street Factory

Plymouth, England

12 Jul 20

Drake's Island Swim

Plymouth, England

01-31 Jul 20

Mayflower 400 - Get Active in July

Plymouth, England

31 Jul 20

Creation Station Craft Workshop - Debenhams

Plymouth, England

12 Jul 20

The Mayflower 400 Drake's Island Paddle

Plymouth, England

15 Jul-09 Aug 20

The 400

Plymouth, England

03-09 Aug 20

Pride 2020

Plymouth, England

09 Aug 20

The Mayflower 400 Breakwater Swim

Plymouth, England

12-13 Aug 20

British Firework Championships

Plymouth, England

01-31 Aug 20

Mayflower 400 - Get Active in August

Plymouth, England

29 Aug 20

Mayflower International Genealogical Conference

Plymouth, England

12 Aug 20

Bringing History Alive: Learning Through Imagination

Plymouth, England

21 Aug 20

Creation Station Craft Workshop - Baby Roo

Plymouth, England

22-23 Aug 20

The Hatchling

Plymouth, England
Smeatons Tower Plymouth Hoe

14-20 Sep 20

Mayflower Week

Plymouth, England

19-20 Sep 20

Mayflower Muster

Plymouth, England

16 Sep 20

Mayflower Ceremony

Plymouth, England

09-16 Sep 20

Flower and Quilt Festival

Plymouth, England

05 Sep-24 Oct 20

Wampum: Stories from the Shells of Native America

Plymouth, England

12-13 Sep 20

Plymouth Seafood & Maritime Festival

Plymouth, England

17 Sep 20

The Royal Marines Rehabilitation Triathlon

Plymouth, England

01-30 Sep 20

Mayflower 400 - Get Active in September

Plymouth, England

04-06 Sep 20

Mayflower Morris Muster

Plymouth, England

19 Sep 20

Creation Station Craft Workshop - Turtle Bay

Plymouth, England

12 Sep 20

Plymouth 1620: The Place, The People, The Evidence

Plymouth, England

01-31 Oct 20

Mayflower 400 - Get Active in October

Plymouth, England

14 Oct 20

Plymouth Schools Choir Festival

Plymouth, England

22 Nov 19

Directions by Marcy Saude: Decolonial Dreamscapes

Plymouth, England

01-30 Nov 20

Mayflower 400 - Get Active in November

Plymouth, England

10 Nov 20

Thanksgiving Service at Plymouth Cathedral

Plymouth, England

01-31 Dec 20

Mayflower 400 - Get Active in December

Plymouth, England

28 Nov-01 Dec 19

Illuminate Plymouth 2019

Plymouth, England

12 Dec 19

Political Economy and Atlantic Ecology: Why Silk Failed in Early America

Plymouth, England
Sign up for the latest Mayflower 400 news

You'll be the first to hear the latest Mayflower news, events, and more.

Today is the annual celebration of the mathematical constant π. But we enjoy the excuse to talk about the Pie! The… https://t.co/4VfTWfosEE

Follow @mayflower400nl
Log In

Forgotten Password?

Register
Site by RADIATOR