Mayflower Steps where pilgrims left for America 400 years ago is actually ‘in a pub’s ladies toilet’

Has the REAL location of the Mayflower steps been found? Location where pilgrims left for America 400 years ago is actually in a pub’s ladies toilet… say the staff who work there

  • Thousands of British tourists visit Plymouth, Devon to see the Mayflower steps
  • The steps are where Pilgrim fathers left England to settle in North America
  • Pub staff claim that holidaymakers and historians are going to the wrong spot
  • The steps are actually underneath ladies toilets in pub just feet away, say staff

The location of the historic Mayflower Steps is actually inside the ladies toilets of a pub, according to the staff that work there.

The famous steps in Plymouth, Devon, are where the pilgrim fathers left England aboard the Mayflower in 1620 before crossing the Atlantic Ocean to settle in North America.

Every year thousands of tourists – most from the USA – flock to the city to retrace the footsteps of the iconic pioneers.

The location of the actual Mayflower steps were originally beneath the Admiral MacBride pub a few feet away, according to the staff that work there. Pub staff claim that holidaymakers and historians are going to the wrong spot

But locals say the holidaymakers and historians are actually visiting the wrong spot.

Those steps were actually built in 1934 – and the location of the actual Mayflower steps were originally beneath the Admiral MacBride pub a few feet away.

Experts say the actual site of the embarkation point of the Mayflower was under what is now a modest female toilet cubicle.

Admiral MacBride’s head chef Ollie Marshall said: ‘Legend has it that this is the home of the Mayflower Steps.

‘The building was put on top of it more than 300 years ago and they are directly beneath the women’s toilets.’

The famous steps in Plymouth, Devon, are where the Pilgrim Fathers left England aboard the Mayflower in 1620 before crossing to settle in America. This monument was built in 1934

The famous steps in Plymouth, Devon, are where the Pilgrim Fathers left England aboard the Mayflower in 1620 before crossing to settle in America. This monument was built in 1934

‘I’m ex Royal Navy and I’ve been drinking at the Admiral MacBride for the best part of 20 years, so I know the pub quite well.

‘It is well known that the original Pilgrim Father steps are in the ladies toilets. I’ve not yet had an invite to go and see them yet but I know they’re there.

‘Lots of people talk about it.

‘It’s one of those things, it’s a story or part of legend that’s never subsided so people do mention it and you hear it from time to time.

‘And I think it’s based on historical fact, it’s only a stone’s throw away from the new Pilgrim Fathers steps.

‘It’s nice to know I’m not to far from them and in a weird way they have been preserved, albeit underneath what is now tiles and toilets.’

Ollie says tourists have done their research have started coming to the pub – and ask to see the ladies’.

He said: ‘People just want to go in and see the toilet. They expect more but it is just a toilet. It is all underneath, you cannot see much but it is always exciting for them.

‘We have groups of up to 30 come in and just want to see the toilets. It gets a bit tricky at times.

Experts say the actual site of the embarkation point of the Mayflower was under what is now a modest female toilet cubicle, pictured above

Experts say the actual site of the embarkation point of the Mayflower was under what is now a modest female toilet cubicle, pictured above

‘We are looking to have T-shirts and cups made so they can have a little souvenir to take away.’

Several visitors said they had no idea about the historic toilet.

William Brittle, from Southend-on-Sea, said: ‘I used to live in Plymouth years ago, I was in the Navy.

‘I didn’t know they were in the ladies toilets of the pub.

‘Well they have kept it very secret, so a lot of Americans can take photos of those steps instead of going to the toilets and taking their photographs there.’

Clive Ball, lives close to the site and joined the Royal Navy in 1977.

He added: ‘I don’t hear of it at all, that’s the first I’ve heard of the steps being in the pub.

‘I think it’s great, I think it’s a huge selling point for the pub.

‘I use that pub quite regularly and I’ve probably not looked around and understood there is some history below where I’m drinking a pint of beer’. 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk