Among the fishing boats of Plymouth’s harbour is a memorial to the settlers who went on to found one of the first American colonies.
Find the granite block on the Mayflower Steps which marks the approximate site where the Pilgrim Fathers departed for America. See the tablet which commemorates their voyage and then head through the weathered portico. Gaze out from the balcony over the sea to the same horizon these settlers once sailed for.
The actual steps from which the pilgrims departed no longer exist and their exact spot is disputed. Many local historians believe it stands on top of the nearby pub, the Admiral MacBride. Have a drink here to get as close as possible to the site where 102 passengers set out from Plymouth on September 6, 1620, aboard the ship Mayflower. One third of them were Puritan settlers seeking religious freedom, the remainder hired to support the expedition. The 66-day voyage was successful, but only 53 people survived to celebrate America’s first Thanksgiving the following year.
See the granite block bearing the ship’s name which marks the area close to their departure point and a tablet added in 1891 to celebrate their success. Walk through the honey-colored stone of the Doric portico, added in 1934, to find the mini-balcony. From here you can enjoy fantastic views of the boats in the harbour and out across the ocean. Visit the adjacent street to find a wooden board outside Island House. The board has been painted with the passenger list of the Mayflower.
Find more plaques in the location which commemorate other historical events near the site. See inscriptions that mark the return of Tolpuddle Martyrs from Australian exile in 1838 and the 1839 departure of the Tory, which took settlers to New Zealand. Another marks the arrival of the first transatlantic flight, almost 300 years after the Pilgrim Fathers departed.
The Mayflower Steps are located in Plymouth’s historic Barbican district, just a short walk from the city centre. The steps can be visited at any time. Guided tours are available for groups.
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