'"As ONE small candle may
light a THOUSAND..."

The project connects Retford and Gainsborough with the associated villages in a regional Pilgrims Trail. The trail features the Pilgrims’ heritage sites such as Austerfield and Scrooby. Importantly, Bassetlaw Museum, in Retford, is the central focus for the physical trail providing a new Pilgrims Gallery. In addition to the new gallery, digital resources will bring the pilgrims trail to life and, in turn, support learning opportunities and provide far-reaching engagement. The added focus is for community groups and volunteers to help engage in attracting local, national and international visitors.”

Overall, the Project will transform the knowledge and awareness of the local origins of the Pilgrims and Separatists story. It places North Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and South Yorkshire as a major destination from which inspirational people took the heroic step to flee persecution. It follows them as they travel halfway across the known world to establish a colony in harsh conditions and how they survived the initial years. The Pilgrims went on to establish principles for the foundation of freedom and modern democracy.

This Heritage Lottery project is the cornerstone for a wide suite of activities being undertaken which showcases the area and complements the national Mayflower 400 partnership activities. The aim of all this is to ensure that there is a resilient legacy of our heritage to leave to our children. Vitally, our themes of Freedom, Tolerance and Migration have as much resonance in the world today, 400 years after the Pilgrims’ journey.