Pilgrims Fathers Memorial, Southampton

The Pilgrim Fathers Memorial in Southampton commemorates a pivotal moment in the journey of the Pilgrims who sought religious freedom. Built in 1913, this monument marks the departure of the "Mayflower" and "Speedwell" ships from Southampton Quay in 1620, carrying the Pilgrim Fathers to America. Fleeing persecution under the reign of King James I, the Pilgrims were driven by their desire to practice their Puritan faith freely.

The memorial, located on the north bank of The Haven, near the former site of Scotia Creek in Fishtoft, Lincolnshire, also recognizes earlier efforts by the Scrooby Congregation. These English Separatist Protestants first attempted to flee England in 1607, chartering a Dutch vessel to transport them to the Netherlands. However, their plan was thwarted when the captain betrayed them, leading to their arrest and imprisonment. A year later, they succeeded in their escape, first arriving in Amsterdam before settling in Leiden in 1609. By 1620, the congregation set sail for the New World, departing from Southampton and Plymouth.

Erected by the former Boston Borough Council in 1957 on the 350th anniversary of the Scrooby Congregation's journey, the memorial is a small granite obelisk mounted on a granite block. Designed to symbolize the determination and faith of the Pilgrims, the monument was crafted by Leake's Masonry and attended by members of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants. The tapering shaft represents the steadfastness and resilience of the men and women who left their homeland in pursuit of religious liberty.