A historic project has begun in Boston to lay a path that commemorates the puritans who left the town for Boston Massachusetts in the 1600s.
The project includes 13 stone memorials engraved with the names of the 12 puritans. They will follow the pathway running along either sides of the Stump, with two cited nearby.
The first stones arrived yesterday (Tuesday) for the £15,000 project – which is expected to boost tourism.
Peter Coleman, Stump project manager, said: “We have already been contacted by some people from Boston, USA, who want to visit in the summer to see the Puritan Path. We are also in the process of producing a leaflet to boost the tourism of the area.”
The memorials are the only ones of their kind in the country and will be put next to the church – where the puritan men and women worshipped.
“The story of the founding of Boston, Massachusetts is a very important but little-recognised part of the heritage of St Botolph’s Church, the town and the country,” he added.
An informative brass plaque will be laid in the footpath to explain the project. Eleven stones will be carved with the name of the person and the date of sailing.
A twelfth will be sited by the Cotton Chapel, at the south-west corner of the church, carved with details of the Rev John Cotton and a verse by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
At the end of the path, by the river wall, a further stone will have a slate insert with the words of Governor John Winthrop: “We must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us.”
Funding is provided by The Historic Bostons’ Partnership, The Wash Fens Local Action Group, Boston Stump Restoration Trust, The Friends of Boston Stump, The Partnership of the Historic Bostons, and Boston Borough Council.
The project is expected to be complete in time for Easter.
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