The 400th anniversary of the first permanent English settlement in North America – Jamestown, Virginia – in May, 2007, will be marked with a series of events in Britain, starting this summer. The campaign sets out to inspire and galvanise many, especially United States visitors, to return to the UK in search of their roots. The summer sees the first Virginian Indian Festival in Gravesend, Kent (July 15-16) and later in the year the re-enactment of the original departure, with replicas of the three ships from Blackwall, London (December 19). Once more these three ships will set out for the ‘New World’, arriving eventually in Virginia. The originals, with their 104 settlers, were the Susan Constant, Godspeed and Discovery – and notably preceded the Pilgrim Fathers on the Mayflower by 13 years.
A British Jamestown 2007 Committee, co-led by Lord Watson of Richmond and Sir Robert Worcester, has been set up to develop a commemorative programme highlighting the continuing ties between the two countries. Among the 2006 highlights is a Jamestown exhibition at London’s Museum in Docklands. Gravesend, Kent was the final resting place of Indian princess, Pocahontas who died from consumption on her return to Virginia in 1617.
Though London is the early focus of anniversary events, the commemorations will build into a UK-wide celebration at locations related to the 17th century expedition. The counties of Kent, Suffolk and Lincolnshire, from where many of the participants and expertise were drawn, have already made a start. They have published a colourful fold-out map, Begin your adventure where your ancestors began theirs, available free, and a website: www.beginyouradventure.co.uk.
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