The City of London is often overlooked in the story of the Mayflower but this is where the funding for the hire of the Mayflower was raised.  A group of financially astute men would lay the foundations for what are the venture capitalists of today.  London has always been at the forefront of finance.  We will discuss the role of these Merchant Adventurers and visit places associated with them and their Mayflower links. 

We will explore the site of the Dutch Church where the pilgrims from Leiden in Holland would have worshipped. Many religious non conformists in England settled in Holland where there appeared to be more religious freedoms before deciding to cross the Atlantic. Here, there is a plaque to the Clergy of the church, some of whom would have known the Mayflower pilgrims, although the current church is modern, rebuilt following damage in World War II. 

We will visit the site of Heneage House, where the main negotiations for the voyage of the Mayflower would have taken place.  There would have been discussion about the ship and it's captain and the recruitment of a crew.  It is London where the majority of the Strangers, or ecomomic migrants, would have been recruited.  Today the site is occupied by a synagogue.

The Guilds and Livery Companies still play an important role today.  We will be able to see the Guildhall itself, dating back to the C15th Century, which still provides the heart of the administration of the City.