Not exactly hidden away, but not exactly on a main walking route, is the Virginia Quay Settlers Monument, standing proud on what was once Virginia Quay.
It was from near this spot, back on December 19-20 1606, that the first settlers of the Colony of Virginia departed for the New World.
Led by Captain Christopher Newport and consisting of three ships: 'Discovery', 'Godspeed' and 'Susan Constant', 105 men and boys, plus 39 crew, set sail with a charter to establish a settlement in the Virginia territory.
Unlike the later 'Mayflower' voyage, which took just ten weeks, this Virginia expedition took 21 weeks to find land suitable for colonisation. They named their colony Jamestown, in honour of King James I. Captain John Smith, Edward Maria Wingfield and Robert Hunt are credited with founding Jamestown, in April 1607. Captain John Smith, is best known for his association with the Native America Princess Pocahontas, who supposedly saved his life.
The settlement was, unfortunately, abandoned within three years, due, in part, to the settlers that were chosen for the expedition. Many were gentlemen, unused to working, while others were unused to farming. Famine and starvation brought an end to the settlement.
Jamestown was later reoccupied but was abandoned again by 1699. Today, there is nothing left of the original settlement, besides a thriving tourist industry.
Virginia Quay
For over 400 years this was a hugely important place for British Naval ships. For it was near this very spot that hundreds of Merchant and Royal Navy ships were built and repaired.
Originally called Blackwall it was a small settlement set among marshlands, as was much of the area at the time.
Situated just before the bend of Stepney Marsh, now the Isle of Dogs, it became an important anchorage point for those arriving and leaving London.
Martin Frobisher departed from this spot on his second expedition to seek out the north-west passage.
Blackwall was the site of the Brunswick (East India Export) Dock, in 1806.
The Virgin Quay Settlers Monument
In 1928, a bronze plaque, donated by the 'Society for the Protection of West Virginia Artefacts', was mounted on the wall of Brunswick House, which was the Dock Master's House. Brunswick House was located just 100 yards (91 metres) east of the current location of the monument.
During World War II Brunswick House was severely damaged by the German bombing campaign and was demolished shortly after the war, but the plaque was saved.
The plaque reads:
"From near this spot, December 19, 1606, sailed with 105 "adventurers"
The "Susan Constant", 100 tons, Capt. Christopher Newport, in supreme command.
The "Godspeed", 40 tons, Capt. Bartholomew Gosnold.
The "Discovery", 20 tons, Capt. John Ratcliffe.
Landed at Cape Henry, Virginia, April 26, 1607.
Arrived at Jamestown, Virginia, May 13, 1607.
Where these "adventurers" founded the first permanent English colony in America
under the leadership of the intrepid Capt. John Smith,
Edward Maria Wingfield, President of the Council,
The Reverend Robert Hunt and others.
At Jamestown, July 30, 1619,
was convened the first representative assembly in America."
In 1951, the East India Export Dock was being infilled, ready for the construction of the Brunswick Wharf Power Station.
Harold Brown designed the monument to consist of a pile of rough granite blocks, taken from the old quay wall of the West India Docks. A bronze statue of a mermaid sat in a shell, sat at the top of the monument. The rough granite symbolised the resilience of the first settlers, while the mermaid represented the 'call of the sea'.
The monument was unveiled by the United States Ambassador to Britain, Walter Sherman Gifford, in 1951. The mermaid statue was later stolen, but was recovered when it came up for auction, in 2007. It was not reinstated.
The Brunswick Wharf Power Station was demolished between 1988-89, with the site being developed as part of a residential housing project, by Barratt Homes.
During the redevelopment Barratt Homes moved the monument to its current location, commissioning Wendy Ann Taylor to design a new bronze piece to sit atop the monument. Wendy Ann Taylor created a Mariner's Astrolabe, something the settlers would have used on their expedition.
The monument now sits on a polished granite plinth, donated by Barratt Homes, inscribed with notes about the monument's move and the renovation undertaken.
Again, the monument was unveiled by the US ambassador to Britain, Philip Lader, this time in the presence of the 'Jamestowne Society' and a march by musket and pike re-enactors.
There are four flagpoles, behind the monument, which fly the flags of the United States of America, the Union Flag, the flag of England and the Virginia State flag.
Keeping the connection with Virginia, Barratt Homes named the streets Jamestown, Newport and the Pilgrims.
On March 9 2017, the monument was granted Grade II listed status.
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