Dartmouth Bayard's Cove Fort, Bayard's Cove and the Pilgrim Fathers, Dartmouth, South Devon

Dartmouth Bayard's Cove Fort, Bayard's Cove and the Pilgrim Fathers, Dartmouth, South Devon

Fort and the Pilgrim Fathers

Bayard's Cove and its fort are located by Dartmouth/Kingswear Lower Ferry just south of Dartmouth Embankment. There are superb views across the water to Kingswear and down the River Dart and Estuary to Dartmouth Castle.

In addition to its natural beauty, striking architecture and pub, Bayard's Cove has a fascinating history.

There is a plaque: ' TO COMMEMORATE THE SAILING OF THE PILGRIM FATHERS FROM THIS PORT IN THE MAYFLOWER & SPEEDWELL ON THE 20TH AUGUST 1620.'

Beneath this plaque is another with a more detailed narrative of events surrounding the journey from Europe to America: 'HERE, OFF BAYARD'S COVE, THE MAYFLOWER (180 TONS) WITH LONDON COLONISTS, AND THE SPEEDWELL (80 TONS) WITH LEYDEN PILGRIMS - SOME 122 IN ALL - LAY AT ANCHOR FROM AUGUST 23 (NEW STYLE) TO ABOUT AUGUST 31, 1620. THESE SHIPS HAD SAILED FROM SOUTHAMPTON ON AUGUST 15. THEY PUT IN AT DARTMOUTH TO REPAIR THE LEAKING SPEEDWELL. THEY SAILED FROM DARTMOUTH FOR AMERICA'

'WHEN ABOUT 300 MILES W.S.W.OF LAND'S END, THE UNSEAWORTHINESS OF THE SPEEDWELL MADE IT NECESSARY TO PUT BACK TO PLYMOUTH, DEVON, ON SEP-TEMBER 7. THE SPEEDWELL WAS ABANDONED, AND ON SEPTEMBER 16 THE MAYFLOWER ALONE SET SAIL AGAIN FOR AMERICA, WITH 102 PASSENGERS. THEIR SPIRITUAL LEADER WAS ELDER WILLIAM BREWSTER. THE MAYFLOWER CAST ANCHOR IN CAPE COD HARBOUR, NEW ENGLAND, ON NOVEMBER 21, 1620, OFF WHAT IS NOW PROVINCE-TOWN, ARRIVING AT PLYMOUTH ON DECEMBER 26'

'ON NOVEMBER 21 THE MAYFLOWER COMPACT, A CHARTER OF SELF-GOVERNMENT -- "THE FIRST AMERICAN CONSTITUTION" -- WAS MADE LAW BY 41 SIGNATORIES. THUS DARTMOUTH TOOK PART IN ESTABLISHING CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN THE NEW WORLD'

 

Dartmouth Bayard's Cove Fort, Bayard's Cove and the Pilgrim Fathers

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