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In 1606 three ships carrying 104 colonists departed from Blackwall on the river Thames in London. They were bound for the new world. It was the survivors of this journey who would establish the first permanent English settlement in North America, Jamestown. They named this settlement after King James I of England and Scotland, who had given much support to the expedition. Today a monument to this expedition stands not far from the original departure point of the ships in Virginia quay.
Originally the ‘monument’ was only a bronze plaque, presented to Brunswick house by the people of Virginia in 1928. The plaque reads
'FROM NEAR THIS SPOT/DECEMBER 19 1606/SAILED WITH "105 ADVENTURERS"/THE "SUSAN CONSTANT" 100 TONS/CAPT CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT/IN SUPREME COMMAND/THE "GODSPEED" 40 TONS/CAPT BARTHOLOMEW GOSNOLD/THE "DISCOVERY" 20 TONS/CAPT JOHN RATCLIFFE/LANDED AT CAPE HENRY VIRGINIA/ APRIL 1607/ARRIVED AT JAMESTOWN VIRGINIA/MAY 13 1607/WHERE THESE "ADVENTURERS"/FOUNDED THE FIRST PERMANENT/ENGLISH COLONY IN AMERICA/UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE/INTREPID CAPT JOHN SMITH/EDWARD MARIA WINGFIELD/PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL/THE REVEREND ROBERT HUNT/AND OTHERS/AT JAMESTOWN JULY 30 1619 WAS/CONVENED THE FIRST ASSEMBLY IN AMERICA'.
In 1951 this plaque was taken to its current location and, using stones taken from the old quay from which the expedition set out, a free standing stone monument was created. In 1999 British sculptor Wendy Taylor was commissioned to design an astrolabe for the monument. She sculpted this from bronze and placed it atop the stone tower. In addition, a marble base was added. An inscription on the marble base reads
'VIRGINIA QUAY/THE VIRGINIA SETTLERS MEMORIAL TABLET WAS/UNVEILED IN 1928 ON THE WALL/OF BRUNSWICK HOUSE WHICH FORMERLY STOOD/ABOUT 100 YARDS TO THE WEST OF THIS POINT/IN 1999 BARRATT HOMES LIMITED REINSTATED/THIS MONUMENT AND COMMISSIONED THE MARINERS ASTROLABE/BY WENDY TAYLOR C.B.E.'
The monument marks a key point in American and British history. Most of those who study this period of either country’s history will know about Jamestown and some may have even visited what remains of that settlement. However, the monument in London, marking a point almost as significant, is often overlooked. For anyone interested in American History in London, it is well worth a visit.
Originally the ‘monument’ was only a bronze plaque, presented to Brunswick house by the people of Virginia in 1928. The plaque reads
'FROM NEAR THIS SPOT/DECEMBER 19 1606/SAILED WITH "105 ADVENTURERS"/THE "SUSAN CONSTANT" 100 TONS/CAPT CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT/IN SUPREME COMMAND/THE "GODSPEED" 40 TONS/CAPT BARTHOLOMEW GOSNOLD/THE "DISCOVERY" 20 TONS/CAPT JOHN RATCLIFFE/LANDED AT CAPE HENRY VIRGINIA/ APRIL 1607/ARRIVED AT JAMESTOWN VIRGINIA/MAY 13 1607/WHERE THESE "ADVENTURERS"/FOUNDED THE FIRST PERMANENT/ENGLISH COLONY IN AMERICA/UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE/INTREPID CAPT JOHN SMITH/EDWARD MARIA WINGFIELD/PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL/THE REVEREND ROBERT HUNT/AND OTHERS/AT JAMESTOWN JULY 30 1619 WAS/CONVENED THE FIRST ASSEMBLY IN AMERICA'.
In 1951 this plaque was taken to its current location and, using stones taken from the old quay from which the expedition set out, a free standing stone monument was created. In 1999 British sculptor Wendy Taylor was commissioned to design an astrolabe for the monument. She sculpted this from bronze and placed it atop the stone tower. In addition, a marble base was added. An inscription on the marble base reads
'VIRGINIA QUAY/THE VIRGINIA SETTLERS MEMORIAL TABLET WAS/UNVEILED IN 1928 ON THE WALL/OF BRUNSWICK HOUSE WHICH FORMERLY STOOD/ABOUT 100 YARDS TO THE WEST OF THIS POINT/IN 1999 BARRATT HOMES LIMITED REINSTATED/THIS MONUMENT AND COMMISSIONED THE MARINERS ASTROLABE/BY WENDY TAYLOR C.B.E.'
The monument marks a key point in American and British history. Most of those who study this period of either country’s history will know about Jamestown and some may have even visited what remains of that settlement. However, the monument in London, marking a point almost as significant, is often overlooked. For anyone interested in American History in London, it is well worth a visit.
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