Pilgrim Fathers' Memorial

The Pilgrim Fathers' Memorial in Southampton stands on Western Esplanade, close to the medieval town walls and the waterfront. It marks the departure of the Mayflower and Speedwell from the city in August 1620, carrying English Separatists bound for the New World. Unveiled in 1913, the monument has been Grade II listed on the National Heritage List for England since 1969.

What exactly is the memorial?

A tall column of rough-faced stone rises from a stepped base. Fluted Ionic columns carry a domed cupola, and a model of the Mayflower crowns the top. The design was by R. M. Lucas. The idea dates to 1909, when Fossey John Cobb Hearnshaw, a history professor at Southampton's university college, proposed it. The monument was unveiled in August 1913; Royal Museums Greenwich records the US ambassador, Walter Hines Page, as the person who performed the ceremony.

Why Southampton?

The two ships left here in August 1620 on the first leg of the voyage to North America. Speedwell leaked, which forced stops at Dartmouth and then Plymouth. The Mayflower alone crossed the Atlantic, leaving Plymouth in September. Its passengers became known as the Pilgrim Fathers and founded Plymouth Colony in New England. Southampton was where the journey began, which is why the town chose to mark it here.

How do you get there?

The memorial sits on the waterfront promenade in the city centre, so the easiest approach is on foot from the Old Town and quayside. It is an open-air monument with no tickets and no opening hours, so you can visit at any time. There is nothing to enter inside the column; the visit is about the structure itself and its plaques.

When should you visit?

Daylight and dry weather show the cupola and the ship model best. A stop takes only a few minutes, so pair it with a walk along the town walls and the quayside. Southampton marked the 400th anniversary of the voyage in 2020, and the memorial remains one of the main stops on the city's Mayflower trail.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entry fee? No. The memorial stands in a public space and can be visited free of charge.

Who designed it, and when was it unveiled? R. M. Lucas designed it, and it was unveiled in August 1913.

Is the monument protected? Yes. Historic England listed it at Grade II in 1969.

Did the Mayflower sail straight from Southampton to America? No. The ships called at Dartmouth and Plymouth, and the Mayflower crossed the Atlantic after leaving Plymouth in September 1620.