Image credit: Jim Linwood / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 · 2011-10-05 ↗
Pilgrim sculpture with the impossible A–Z
Rotherhithe · Rotherhithe · Expansion route discovery
Story
On the Rotherhithe riverfront, a pilgrim sculpture stands as a memorial to the Mayflower, yet its details invite closer inspection. Artist Peter McClean deliberately inserted anachronisms: a child depicted alongside the pilgrim reads a newspaper from the 1930s, while the pilgrim himself carries a London A–Z in his pocket, absurdly dated 1620. This playful subversion of chronology doesn't undermine history; rather, it prompts contemplation. The sculpture deviates from the usual solemnity of monuments to engage with memory and the modern tendency to package the past into simplified maps and images. The anachronistic A–Z is a detail that rewards curiosity and close looking, something many might repeatedly overlook.
What to look for
Look closely at the pilgrim's pocket to spot an object resembling a London street map. Also, notice the newspaper being read by the child.
Secret detail
The A–Z in the pilgrim's pocket is dated 1620, an impossible date for such a map, making it a deliberate artistic anachronism.
Where exactly
On the Rotherhithe riverfront, very close to The Mayflower pub. Find the pilgrim sculpture and inspect its details closely.
Orientation
Move close enough to appreciate the details without touching or climbing on the sculpture.
Why it matters
This sculpture challenges conventional historical representation, inviting close observation and reflection on how narratives of the past are constructed.
Access & opening
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Accessibility
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