MAYFLOWER

On 16 September 1620, the Mayflower sailed from Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States. On board were 102 men, women and children and a small crew, a large group of whom were Puritans (who become known as the Pilgrim Fathers). Their hope was to reach the New World, where they could have religious freedom, and continue using their native language, culture, and customs. After 65 grueling days they dropped anchor off Cape Cod on 21st November, before landing on the coast of Massachusetts on 21st December 1620 at a spot now called Plymouth Rock, where they established their own government.

Why did the passengers feel they needed to leave England?

On the death of Queen Elizabeth 1st, James 1st became king and adopted a moderate Protestant faith as the one true religion for England and Scotland, all other religions were discouraged or barred.

Why are the Pilgrim Fathers important?

The Pilgrim Fathers were the first permanent European settlers in America and therefore are often said to be the founders of the United States.

GREAT FIRE OF LONDON

At one o'clock in the morning on 2 September 1666, Thomas Farriner was asleep over his bakehouse in Pudding Lane, in the City of London, when a servant rushed in to wake him. The bedroom was full of smoke and the staircase was already in flames. He and his wife and daughter , with the servant, escaped through a small window and watched the blaze spread to his neighbours timber houses. The Great Fire of London had begun. What started as a small small fire raged for four days as an enormous fire, destroying two thirds of the City: 13,200 houses, 430 streets and 89 churches. The fire could be seen from forty miles round the capital.

How do we know so much about the Fire of London?

The reason why we know so many details about the fire is that two men who were alive at that time kept diaries in which they described the dramatic events. The names of these two people were Samuel Pepys and John Evelyn.

Fire Prevention

To prevent such a disaster happening again King Charles ll commanded that all new houses in London should be of stone and brick not wood. Christopher Wren constructed St Paul's Cathedral (between 1675 and 1711) as well as many churches.

 Monument

Not long after the fire a momument, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, was erected between 1671 and 1677, as the City's memorial to the Great Fire in 1666.