This exhibition marks the 400th anniversary of the first permanent English settlement in America at Jamestown, Virginia.
23 November 2006 – 13 May 2007
On 10 April 1606, the Virginia Company of London and the Virginia Company of Plymouth received a charter from James I to colonize a vast tract of North America between French-occupied lands to the north of the St. Lawrence River and Spanish territories in Florida. They were to search for precious metals and bring the Christian religion to the "Infidels and Savages living in those parts".
In 1618 a scheme was set up to send orphans, poor children, and street urchins from London to Virginia. The children were maintained and educated in America and later granted 25 acres with corn and cattle. I love the fact that James I said it would promote the security of the kingdom and rid the city of “superfluous multitude”.
More laborers were needed for the ‘New World’ and people volunteered but they didn’t go prepared – not even taking spare clothes – so disease spread quickly.
Settlers were required to carry arms at all times and from 1631 they undertook target practice every Sunday.
In 1658 every household had to have a functioning firearm and if they were too poor they were given a government loan. I live in a country where firearms are illegal so this amazed me.
The English wanted to tame the "savages" by making them wear English fashion and teaching them to read and write. How self-righteous we were!
I was fascinated to discover the uproar a hot non-alcoholic drink had on London society. Some believed it to be poison, others called it a “eunuch drink” while many believed it was a medicine to save them from all illnesses. The first coffee house in London in 1652 and by 1662 there were 83 in the City of London alone.
Outside the Museum in Docklands, in the water, is a full-size replica of the Discovery, one of the 3 ships that left London, from a mile away from the Museum, for Virginia on 20 December 1606.
- 11meters at waterline
- 3.5 meters across beam
- carried 22 men and boys
- 5 month voyage to Virginia
- Upon entering you see the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (Theater of the World) by Abraham Ortelius, 1575 – often called the first modern atlas (on loan from the National Maritime Museum, London).
- See the Pocahontus wooden figure.
- Children’s activity corner
