Mayflower Anniversary Celebrations
In 2020 many places from Plymouth to South Yorkshire will be involved in the 400th anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower. This page looks at the ways in which previous anniversaries were marked from 1920. (The 1820 anniversary was celebrated in the USA but not in England.)
Primarily intended to celebrate and promote ties with the U.S.A., in 1920 many places in England held events such as pageants, processions, conferences, receptions and bazaars to mark the 300th anniversary of the sailing of the ‘Pilgrim Fathers’ (as they became known) on the Mayflower. Not surprisingly, Plymouth had a series of celebrations which included a glittering reception in the Guildhall, a conference, a pageant and a music festival. An estimated 10,000 Americans were expected to visit Plymouth as part of the tercentenary celebrations.
The illustration, below, shows a scene from the pageant at Plymouth depicting Elder William Brewster, played by the Rev, Joseph Gray, leading prayers. The photograph was on the front page of ‘The Sphere’, vol. 82, no. 1,076, 4 September 1920. © Illustrated London News Group.
Nearer to home, a ‘Mayflower Fair’ was held at Bawtry Hall on Monday, 2 August 1920, a Bank Holiday. On the lawn in front of the Hall were ivy-covered tents in which there were representations of 17th century village life including oak furniture and old pottery to signify the homes of William Bradford at Austerfield and William Brewster at Scrooby. Across the lake (representing the Atlantic) were wigwams suggesting an ‘Indian’ village where the smoke of log fires curled up between the wigwams. Visitors could purchase useful and ornamental articles in the pilgrims’ village while beads, basket work and other craft items were for sale in the wigwams. Further entertainments included maypole dancing, a cycle gymkhana, a pastoral play performed by Girl Guides and dancing in the evening.
The Fair, which took place in bright sunshine, was attended by Americans from New England representing the Mayflower Society. The Fair also drew visitors from all parts of a wide district travelling by train, charabanc, motor bus, wagonette, cycle and on foot. It is likely that some people from Tickhill went to the Fair (although most Tickhill people would have attended Tickhill’s annual show on the same day). The whole event, held courtesy of Bawtry Hall’s owners, Major and Mrs Peake, aimed to raise funds to build a church hall at Austerfield. (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, Tuesday, 3 August 1920, p.3.)
Not only might a few Tickhill people have visited Bawtry for this Fair, no doubt some also travelled to Sheffield on 20 September 1920 to attend a performance of the ‘Mayflower’ play at the Surrey Theatre. The play was written by Alfred Hayes and Edward Stirling and produced by Ben Greet. The Minister of Education, H. A. L. Fisher, was one of the patrons and several organisations co-operated in its production including the English Speaking Union, the Anglo-American Society, the American Luncheon Club and the American Women’s Club. (Sheffield Independent, Friday, 17 September 1920, p.4.)
In 1970 Plymouth led the way with celebrations of the 350th anniversary of the pilgrims’ voyage on the Mayflower, starting with a carnival, charity ball and fireworks on 2 May. Among the many other places holding celebrations, Gainsborough Old Hall had an exhibition from mid-September through to October of Lincolnshire’s bonds with North America. This 350th anniversary was notable for the production of a wide range of Mayflower-related souvenirs in ceramics, glass and silver, for example, even tapestry kits. The Royal Worcester fine bone china pin dish depicting the Mayflower, shown at the top of this article, is a typical souvenir. What will the 400th anniversary bring?
(See this website: www.mayflower400uk.org for details of events planned for 2020.)