Plymouth History and Heritage Information

The 1620 Mayflower Pilgrims, Plymouth

The Plymouth Pilgrims did not fit the description of many later emigrants to the US as they were not essentially economic migrants, although there was some consideration of mercantile success. They were not all Pilgrims sailing on the Mayflower from Plymouth. In fact only around 37 of the one hundred passengers on the Mayflower were Pilgrims. Their journey and the subsequent settlement outlined particularly in the diaries of one of the Pilgrims, William Bradford, is now ingrained in American history and consciousness.

Plymouth's connection with the Mayflower is not often mentioned in standard historic versions, and only emerges when you pick apart the numerous mishaps experienced by the Leiden pilgrims (so called after their original settlement and separation in Holland, which they didn't take to) and other passengers. They were originally to land at Virginia Plantation, a vast tract of land which now includes New England, but they were put off by storms which almost shipwrecked them, so they docked further North at Cape Cod. Things just didn't go right for them from the start. It was two ships that originally set sail from Southampton in July 1620. The Speedwell was hired by the Pilgrims in Holland to bring them over to Southampton to meet up with the Mayflower. The two ships were then to proceed to the chartered land in Northern Virginia. The Speedwell had already started to leak on the journey over from Holland, not looking good!

The Speedwell and Mayflower left Southampton together bound for the US on 5th August 1620, but the Speedwell began to leak again and here's where the Devon link comes in! They hurriedly pulled into Dartmouth, not Plymouth, initially for repairs. Off they went again on 21st August, but the Speedwell started to leak again 300 miles out to sea, so at that point they rapidly pulled into Plymouth Sound where they decided to leave the untrustworthy Speedwell behind, and to set sail in the Mayflower only. Some passengers had been so exasperated by the problems they decided against the journey and went home! On 6th September 1620 the Mayflower departed.

The Plymouth Pilgrims were separatists from the Church of England, and after initially trying to settle in Holland and finding the language, poverty and inability to farm too much, as well as being a religious community deemed as strangers in a foreign land they sought sanctuary in America. They believed that they were in a war against Satan. They had gone to Holland in 1608 just 5 years after the death of Elizabeth, fleeing an England in the hands of anti-puritan James Stuart. These pilgrim separatists saw no hope in trying to change the Church of England from within. The rest is history. William Bradford's diaries, albeit the obvious dark prejudices, does give a good glimpse of the mindset of these religious settlers, and indeed the severe hardship they faced in early settlement in the US. Their perception of Native Americans is clear though - they perceived them as savages to be civilised.

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Mayflower Pilgrims Exhibitions Plymouth

Plymouth has a couple of excellent exhibitions where you can find more out the Pilgrim Fathers who made this impromptu detour to Plymouth on their journey to America.

Visit initially the superb interactive Plymouth Mayflower Exhibition on The Barbican opposite the Mayflower Steps. Plymouth's main Tourist Information Centre is based here also. This is the most comprehensive Mayflower Pilgrims exhibition, with detailed information on passenger lists showing clearly that many who made the journey (more than half) were not actually religious separatists. This excellent Plymouth Harbour exhibition looks at both the journey ending at Cape Cod made by the pilgrims, and settlement. There are interesting contrasts in this museum between these emigrants, essentially religious separatists, and later emigrants during the 18th and 19th century particularly, who were economic migrants. A mix of Irish fleeing poverty and the potato famine, or Devon or Cornish farmers and their families who faced poverty and were in search of a better life in the US. The stories of these migrants are in the Plymouth Mayflower Exhibition as well.

Plymouth Mayflower Exhibition, 3-5 The Barbican, Plymouth. Tel. 01752 306330.

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The History of the Barbican In Plymouth

Plymouth Harbour's history stretches right back, but the focus is from the Elizabethan period of Sir Francis Drake, his enormous statue can be viewed near Smeaton's Tower. The Plymouth Sound estuary and harbour is a naturally perfect harbour with its deep waters and sheltered position. Many historic names are associated with Plymouth, and setting sail from its harbour on voyages of discovery, or on excursions to plunder. Drake effectively was an Elizabethan pirate or perceived as such by the Spanish whose many ships were plundered by him!

Sir Francis Drake set sail from Plymouth Harbour in the Golden Hind on his circumnavigation of the world in 1577. (you can view a rather ornate recreation of Sir Francis Drake's Ship, 'The Golden Hind' in Brixham harbour). Plymouth is closely identified with Captain James Cook as well, who left on various journeys from Plymouth across the Pacific in the 18th century. In the 20th century of course, the famous name is Sir Francis Chichester. He became the first Englishman to sail solo round the globe. Chichester and his small craft Gypsy Moth hold a number of records, one being the fastest voyage around the world by a small vessel.

Plymouth is a navy town, and its development as such is charted in the Mayflower exhibition and elsewhere. Royal Naval Dockyards were built at Devonport / Plymouth in the 17th century, and this was the beginning of Plymouth's huge importance as a navel base. Working docks are of course still there today, only accessible usually in August on Plymouth Navy Days events. Its strategic importance as a naval base made Plymouth a key target for bombing during the Second World War. Learn more about the devastating effects of war on Plymouth at the super Plymouth City Museum & Art Gallery in the town centre.

Plymouth historical hotspots are mostly on the quay, around the Barbican Maritime Village, then round Madeira Road on the front - a superb walk taking you to Plymouth Hoe (Hoe meaning high ground which it certainly is offering spectacular views of Plymouth Harbour and Plymouth Sound). Take in the Royal Citadel walls, built during the period of Charles II, with canons actually facing into Plymouth to keep Plymouth's anti-royalists in check. Plymouth had been a strong anti-royalist centre during the Civil War. The official reason for the Citadel defence walls was of course a defence against foreign attack. Move round to the grassy mound of Plymouth Hoe, on which Sir Francis Drake is supposed to have had a game of bowls before heading off for battle with the Spanish Armada! Plymouth Hoe has an array of treats, including the superb Smeaton's Tower, a lighthouse which once stood 14 miles out to sea on the Eddystone Rocks, but was brought back to the Hoe brick by brick and reconstructed.

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Sir Francis Chichester & Gypsy Moth Past & Present

With his record breaking circumnavigation, Sir Francis Chichester broke a number of records and went down in history for undertaking the fastest voyage around the world by a small vessel. He established a new record for single handed speed sailing by sailing 1400 miles from point to point in just 8 days.

Chichester was a pioneering aviator before he started sailing, and indeed he nearly once died whilst trying to circumnavigate the world in his plane of the same name - Gypsy Moth. Sir Francis Chichester's life is one remarkable story after another. He was diagnosed with cancer in 1958, and told by doctors that his lung had to be removed. His wife refused permission, and nursed him back to health successfully. Chichester went on in 1960to run and win the first solo transatlantic sailing race in Gypsy Moth III.

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Plymouth Art - Robert O Lenkiewicz

Robert Lenkiewicz is an artist who has been based in Plymouth through the 1970s, 80s and 90s, through to today. Lenkiewicz is increasingly getting some attention, and rightly so perhaps in a contextual backlash against the negatives of post modernism?! Lenkiewicz's approach is as interesting as his art. He grew up with a rather interesting mother who influenced his creative talents, whilst no doubt driving him slightly round the bend! Lenkiewicz's parents were Jewish refugees from Germany who settled in London and set up a number of homes for the elderly. Growing up in this environment with his two brothers no doubt fed and shaped his great love and empathy for humanity. Lenkiewicz was to focus on various projects of human experience, including vagrancy, death, addiction, suicide, love and romance and sexual behaviour. Lenkiwicz worked on a big scale, with huge canvasses.

A comprehensive website project (see link to the right) exists, giving further insight to this great visual social enquirer. Alternatively, whilst in Plymouth check out the Annexe Gallery on the Parade for some of his work, and of course his mammoth mural on Southside Street, with local faces and characters depicted. Lenkiewicz became well known in Plymouth.

Lenkiewicz hits the spot because he's there with the disaffected, not looking down on them. They look down on you from their great murals. Plymouth has many little gems like Lenkiewicz. Missing a visit to see his work at the Annexe whilst in Plymouth is truly unthinkable!

View Robert O Lenkiwicz's work at The Annexe Gallery, 19 the Parade, Barbican. Tel: 01752 668266. It's not just Lenkiewicz's artwork to look at, this was his studio as well. Fascinating stuff all! A large mural by Lenkiwicz can be viewed on Southside Street, Plymouth which focuses on local Barbican characters.

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