Jamestown USA ‘Discovery’ ship to visit Ipswich

A life size replica of the ‘Discovery’, the smallest of three ships which set sail to the New World in 1606 to found the Jamestown settlement captained by Ipswich born John Sicklemore, will be moored at the historic waterfront in Ipswich, Suffolk and is open to the public for free viewing from 6-13 August.

After the epic voyage the other two ships, Susan Constant and Godspeed, returned to the UK but measuring just 38 feet in length, the 20 ton ‘Discovery’ stayed at the new settlement and was used for navigating the coastline and exploring the rivers. Jamestown was the first permanent English speaking settlement in the United States

Godspeed was captained by Bartholomew Gosnold, another Suffolk son who named Martha’s Vineyard after his infant daughter who died before he embarked on his first exploratory voyage to the New World in 1602. She is buried in an unmarked grave in the Great Churchyard at Bury St Edmunds.

For further information and copies of the On the Gosnold Trail leaflet contact the Ipswich Tourist Information Centre.

For a free copy of the Choose Suffolk short breaks brochure which provides an overview of the county visit Choosesuffolk.com.