Immingham’s brand new permanent heritage trail, commemorating its link to the Mayflower Pilgrims, formally opens to the public on Saturday, March 14 with a community event.
This year marks the 400-year anniversary of the Mayflower’s journey to the new world presenting Immingham with a unique opportunity to maximise its visitor offer and the town has a host of events and activities for both visitors and its residents during the year.
The new heritage trail takes visitors on a walk from the museum to the church, the Pilgrim Fathers Monument and Mill Lane, bringing to life local history along the way with permanent information boards and map.
The completion of the trail marks the final phase of the Pilgrims in Immingham project funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) through a LEADER project designed to support cultural and heritage activity in rural areas. The project was also part-funded by Associated British Ports.he funding has also helped to create a new permanent exhibition in its museum and a new dedicated website www.imminghamheritage.co.uk to support the town’s heritage offer to visitors, centred on the Pilgrims who sailed on the Mayflower ship in 1620.
Public are invited to come along on Saturday any time between 11am and 4pm to walk the mile-long heritage trail taking in the new heritage information boards. Immingham Museum will be open from 11am until 4pm and trail walkers can pick up a quiz sheet to do whilst they walk the trail. St Andrew’s church will be open from noon to welcome walkers after their trail adventure, offering a free cup of coffee or tea and soft drinks for children. Completers of the quiz will receive a certificate and badge.
Councillor Callum Procter, Cabinet member for Tourism, Culture and Heritage, said: “This is the final element of this exciting heritage project. The new installations in Immingham are the result of a lot of work by partners who have been working together to help bring this 400 year-old story to life. The trail will be a permanent reminder of the important part Immingham played in the Mayflower story.”
Andy Hopkins, Town Clerk for Immingham Town Council, added: “We are delighted that the trail has been completed and is now open. It is hoped all these new heritage assets will provide much enjoyment to many people for years to come.”
Immingham has a number of events planned for the commemorative year, all of which will be on the new website www.imminghamheritage.co.uk
Article and photo from NELC.
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