On board the Mayflower were men, women and children from all walks of life. Many were Separatists, a religious group who wanted to break free from the Church of England, while others were simply seeking a fresh start in a new land. While the Mayflower’s passengers were not the first group of British people to settle in America, their journey is remembered for the historic peace treaty built between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe, whose people had lived on the land for over 10,000 years. They are also remembered for introducing the holiday of Thanksgiving, which was celebrated to mark the settlers’ first successful harvest.
Visitors to Devon who would like to trace the roots of the Mayflower’s journey can begin with a visit to the picturesque town of Dartmouth. Still a thriving port town, you can see where the Speedwell was repaired at Bayard’s Cove harbour and pay a visit to Bayard’s Cove Inn, formerly Agincourt House and one of the last surviving buildings from the Tudor period.
Modern-day pilgrims can head to the city of Plymouth and visit the Mayflower Steps, the site from which the Pilgrims are believed to have set sail from on their way to the New World. While the steps themselves no longer exist, there is a memorial plaque and you can still see some of the original historic buildings, including what is now the Plymouth Gin Distillery in Southside Street, which is said to have given passengers accommodation before their departure. In fact, there is now an upmarket bar in the very room they spent their last night before setting sail; visitors can visit and raise a toast to the incredibly brave people who made that perilous journey across the Atlantic all those years ago.
Take a boat trip from the Mayflower Steps to find out more about Plymouth’s maritime history. There is also a self-guided walking tour - the Mayflower Trail – which is available to download from the free Plymouth Trails app. For more on the history and legacy of the Pilgrims, visit The Mayflower Museum.
Saunton Sands Hotel in North Devon offers the perfect base from which to explore Devon’s links to the Mayflower voyage, with easily accessible road links to Dartmouth and Plymouth. A visit to the North Devon Maritime Museum in Appledore also offers an insight into the this part of the county’s very significant seafaring and shipbuilding history. Round off your trip with a visit to Clovelly – a beautifully preserved, 400-year-old village built into the side of a cliff, which will give you an idea of how people would have lived at the time of the Mayflower voyage.
