Southampton 1620
Even in 1620, Southampton was a thriving seaport which had sent many ships across the Atlantic in the past. The Mayflower and Speedwell chose to meet in Southampton as it had everything they needed to prepare themselves for the journey. Then, a town with a population of 4,200, it looked very different to the vibrant city we know now.
Later in 2020, we will launch an online exhibition from our museum and archive collections about Southampton in the early 1600s, which set the scene for the Mayflower departure in 1620, revealing the stories of some of Southampton’s people and businesses from the time.
