THE PILGRIM FATHERS IN DARTMOUTH
the ‘Mayflower’ and the ‘Speedwell’. On board were a party of ‘separatives’ who had set out on a voyage of discovery to find a new home where they could practise their beliefs in seclu- sion from everyday ‘normal’ standards. Their quest was originally to set up a new home in Holland at a quiet place near Leiden but unfortunately the life styles in Holland were too relaxed and they found settling there very difficult and decided to venture to America. So, on August 5th
A they sailed from Southampton ugust 13th 1620 saw two full masted
ships pass Dartmouth Castle and enter the mouth of the River Dart. These were
by John Putt
On the 20th
August
2020 we will be celebrating this
on board the Mayflower and the much smaller, and older ship, The Speedwell. The Speedwell was basi- cally past its sale-by date. Whilst on this voyage from Southampton, a famous letter was written by Robert Cushman in which he worried about ‘Food for the Fishees’, thinking they would all perish in the ‘leaking sief’ (sieve). Indeed, it began leaking quite badly and was forced to put into Dartmouth for urgent repairs. They stayed for eight days whilst repairs were carried out. Rumours have it that the crew, who had carried out some of the repairs, had sabotaged them to try and avoid the voyage to America and the thought of perhaps never returning to England. However, on the 20th
August 1620, the two ships
sailed from Bayards Cove with the next stop, hopefully, being America . A plaque commemorating the voyage is on show at Bayards Cove . 200 miles off Lands End, the Speedwell again began leaking badly and was practically sinking so a return to Plymouth by both ships seemed the most sensible decision. In Plymouth, the Speedwell was abandoned and those Pilgrims that wanted to continue, boarded the Mayflower for that ship to sail alone to America and thus into history. By now these Pilgrims had been living aboard for more than a month and the thought of another couple of months at sea was too much for some, including Mr Cushman. He did, in fact, eventually board a ship in 1623 to join his colleagues in Plimoth Plantation but many of the original passengers decided to abandon the trip and stay in England. The Mayflower was now overfull with passengers, crew, animals and belongings but they continued on their voyage setting sail on the 6th
September 1620 from the Barbican in
Plymouth to the New World. They eventually arrived off Cape Cod on the 9th
November,
just a few degrees off their original route and by Christmas Day 1620 they had started building the ‘Plimoth Plantation’ where they set up home and which is still there to visit today.
momentous episode in our history 400 years on, in conjunction with Harwich, Southampton and Plymouth.
The Mayflower (replica1958)
So what does this mean to Dartmouth? On the 20th
August 2020, we will be celebrating this
momentous episode in our history 400 years on, in conjunction with Harwich, Southampton and Plymouth. Subject to successful funding bids, we aim to have the repli- cas of the two ships sailing into the River Dart and mooring off Bayards Cove Quay. There will be trips for visitors throughout their stay. Bayards will be suitably ‘dressed’ circa 1620 and we hope the town’s people will embrace the event by dressing up for the duration. A working party is getting together to help with costumes and patterns. The Market Square will be ‘dressed’ with buskers, jugglers, Morris men and stall holders to create an appropri- ate historic atmosphere. In the Fort at Bayards, Bill Hunt and Lyn Churchill have offered to produce a play; perhaps we can ask the Inn Company to present their Shakespeare Week a little later to coincide? Beacons will be lit along the coast from Southampton to Plymouth; Church Bells will chime; flotillas of boats, yachts, cruise ships etc. will fill the Dart and the town will buzz as it does at Regatta but without the fair etc. Perhaps our most ambitious task will be to build a ‘Plimoth
Plantation’in the Avenue Gardens, with houses, stalls, black- smith, hog roasts, sheep pens, chickens etc., and of course the jugglers, musicians, entertainers etc. This should provide great entertainment for residents and visitors alike but can only be achieved with the support of the town. It’s a big organisational task. Sub-committees have been formed to plan and imple- ment what needs to be done but lots of help is required. With such help, we hope to make this a truly memorable,
historic event that will make Dartmouth proud. For further information or to offer support contact me, John Putt, at the Dartmouth Museum on 01803 832923 or 01803 770207.
An open meeting about our plans takes place at the Guildhall, Dartmouth on May 8th at 7pm. All are welcome.
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