The launch of the Dartmouth Mayflower Heritage Trail takes place on 19 November 2020. We have been working with Tom Leaper, a South West artist, who has created some wonderful bronze way markers to indicate the route.
The aim of the Trail is to focus on Dartmouth in 17th C, as it was when the Mayflower and the Speedwell were moored in the river. We are fortunate to have a number of buildings that date from that period and earlier, so it will not be difficult to imagine life in Dartmouth at that time. It was a thriving affluent port with successful trading routes and shipbuilding yards. Several of the buildings along the route were merchant’s houses dating from this period. Bayards Cove will be a prominent feature of the Trail, as this is the old harbour area, and by tradition, is where the Mayflower and the Speedwell lay at anchor for ten days. Dartmouth has such a long, rich history, that other events and periods in history will be referred to along the route.
There is an App available to download » Leaflets and a quiz for children will be available from the Visitor Centre, and there will be way markers and interpretation panels along the route. Tour guides will be available for organised tours via the Visitor Centre.
We are expecting visitors of all kinds from far and wide in 2020. However, this trail will be a permanent installation in the town, and we hope that it will attract visitors and be of interest to local people for many years to come.
We are very fortunate to have the support of Dartmouth Town Council for this project. Dartmouth History Research Group, Dartmouth Museum, Dartmouth Visitor Centre and South Hams District Council are also involved.
