THE MAYOR of a town famous for imprisoning the pilgrim fathers has visited Harwich's Mayflower Project.

Councillor Alison Austin, mayor of Boston in Lincolnshire, toured the ambitious ship-build project at George Street in Harwich and was part of talks on the 400th celebration of the famous pilgrim voyage to America in 1620.

The project is building a replica of the Mayflower Ship, which carried the pilgrims to the New World, with the aim of sailing the historic journey on the 2020 anniversary.

Mrs Austin said: “The Harwich Mayflower Project is a very ambitious and impressive project. 

"We hope that the replica Mayflower will be able to visit Boston whilst undergoing its sea trials."

The Guildhall in Boston is famous for imprisoning a group of pilgrims from Nottinghamshire, led by William Brewster and William Bradford.

They tried to escape the teaching of the English church by going to The Netherlands from Boston, but at that time unsanctioned emigration was illegal.

  •  Keith Norman, business development manager of Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, has also been given a tour of the project as part of a investigations into the potential of the unique historical tourist attractions of Harwich.

The visitors were also given a tour of Harwich by David Whittle from the Harwich Society.