While Plymouth is the city most associated with the pilgrims’ flight to freedom aboard the Mayflower in 1620, the original departure point was not actually Plymouth but rather Rotherhithe in London. It was only because of poor weather that the Mayflower even stopped off at Plymouth. While the bulk of memorials to the Mayflower and its passengers are located in Plymouth, there is still some evidence in Rotherhithe of the important role it played in America’s early history.
The most notable of these is the Mayflower pub, which is located on the river Thames near the launch site. One side faces the street while the opposite side is supported by a series of stilts that are fully submerged at high tide.
While the pub is only linked to the Mayflower by its name and location, it continues to celebrate the Mayflower’s past to this day as its namesake.
The most notable of these is the Mayflower pub, which is located on the river Thames near the launch site. One side faces the street while the opposite side is supported by a series of stilts that are fully submerged at high tide.
While the pub is only linked to the Mayflower by its name and location, it continues to celebrate the Mayflower’s past to this day as its namesake.
Not far from the pub stands St. Mary the Virgin church. The captain of the Mayflower, Christopher Jones, was a parishioner here. He was buried in the churchyard following his death in 1622. Unfortunately, the exact location of his body is unknown as the church was completely reconstructed in the 1700s. Still his memory is honoured by a plaque inside the church.
St. Mary the Virgin church remembers not only its ties to the Mayflower's captain but also the voyage as a whole. A blue plaque on the church tower is testament to this.
