A Quick Beer, Then off to the New World

Tweet

Some exploring today and a visit to East London and Rotherhithe, on the south side of the River Thames, and a pub called The Mayflower. Christopher Jones, the master and part owner of the Mayflower, lived in the Rotherhithe area, which was the home port of the ship. The Mayflower was there in 1620 to pick up the Pilgrim Fathers, though I am fairly certain it was not just men, and take them to the New World. They very likely boarded the ship on the north side of the river at Wapping or Blackwall. Claiming to be the oldest pub on the River Thames, built around 1550 and called The Shippe, it was rebuilt in the 18 century and renamed The Spread Eagle and Crown. It was damaged by bombs during WWII and only rebuilt in 1958 and given its current name. There seem to be few, if any, direct connections with the ship or the Pilgrims; however descendants of those that travelled on the ship can sign a guest book and it sells British and US postage stamps, there cannot be many of those in the UK! The Mayflower was 'laid up' on the Thames around 1622 and after being left to rot for a time, it was broken up at Rotherhithe and it is said that some of the ship timbers were incorporated into the pub and a barn in Buckinghamshire. While there I tried a pint of ale called Mayflower Scurvy. So far no ill effects!