Rotherhithe

Have you heard the story of the Mayflower? It’s a tale that connects Rotherhithe with the very fabric of American history. Standing here, on this very peninsula, on the south bank of the Thames, you’re standing on ground where the famous ship set sail. It’s a story that whispers from every cobblestone street and every historic building. This is where the Pilgrim Fathers dreamed of a new life across the ocean. You can almost hear their whispers, their hopes, carrying on the wind. Rotherhithe has witnessed history unfold, from Elizabethan shipyards to bustling docks that thrived until the 1970s. But this district holds a hidden secret, a legacy that goes far beyond those bustling docks. This is where the Mayflower first embarked on its momentous journey. In July 1620, the ship sailed from here. It picked up its precious cargo, 65 passengers, probably from nearby Blackwall, before heading south for Southampton. Its destination? The New World. It was a journey that would change the course of history. The Mayflower’s master, Christopher Jones, died a short while after returning in 1621, and he’s buried in an unmarked grave at St Mary’s Church. No one can be certain precisely where on the Rotherhithe peninsula the Mayflower was berthed, but the Mayflower pub near St Mary’s Church claims the honour, and lists the names of the passengers who embarked on this great adventure on the wall. Though the building itself only dates from the 1950s. So as you stand here amongst the buildings, you can imagine those 17th-century pilgrims making their way to the docks, their dreams filled with hope and promise. The very ground you’re standing on echoes with their hopes and dreams.