NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

*****Sherwood Forest and North Nottinghamshire*****

This northern area of the country is centred around the old market towns of Mansfield, Worksop and Retford and the famous and infamous Sherwood Forest. It is from this quiet and basically rural area that the origins of the United States of America can be traced. During the late 16th century in the villages of north Nottinghamshire those opposed to Elizabeth I's policy of Church government began to form themselves into the Pilgrim movement, held together in their firm belief in the freedom from State control of religious matters. The member of the Separatists group increased and they held their meetings in secret to escape persecution.

By 1608 their persecution by James I became so great that the Pilgrim Fathers as they were later to be called fled to Holland. Some years later in 1620 they sailed from Plymouth to America on board the Mayflower landing at Cape Cod. From there they sent out an expedition to find a suitable settlement and at a place now known as Forefathers Rock in Plymouth the New World was established.

Southwell