Pilgrim Press Plaque at William Brewster Alley
This marker is above the entrance to William Brewstersteeg — William Brewster Alley — in Leiden. When Brewster lived in the alley, it was known as Stinksteeg — or Smelly Alley.
Map of Pilgrim Press Plaque at Brewster Alley
Text on the Pilgrim Press Plaque at Brewster Alley
SITE OF THE VICUS CHORALI (OR PILGRIM) PRESS, ON PIETERSKERKKOORSTEEG
(ST. PETER’S CHURCH CHOIR ALLEY), LEYDEN, NETHERLANDS, IN THE (1609-1620)
HOME OF SEPARATIST PILGRIM FATHER, ELDER WILLIAM BREWSTER OF SCROOBY,
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE, ENGLAND, THE SPIRITUAL LEADER OF PLYMOUTH IN NEW ENGLAND
UNTIL HIS DEATH IN 1643-44
THE GENERAL SOCIETY OF MAYFLOWER DESCENDANTS (U.S.A., 1897)
WALDO MORGAN ALLEN, GOVERNOR GENERAL
ON THEIR FIRST PILGRIMAGE – 152, BY PLANES – TO THE NETHERLANDS AND ENGLAND
SEPTEMBER 22 – OCTOBER 8, 1955
335 YEARS AFTER THE SAILING OF THE MAYFLOWER
The Pilgrim Press in Leiden
William Brewster printed and published books during his time in Leiden. In 1897, Edward Arber published “The Story of the Pilgrim Fathers, 1606–1623 A.D.: As Told by Themselves, Their Friends, and Their Enemies.” According to Arber, Brewster published books from October 1616 to June 1619. The funding for the Brewster Press — or Pilgrim Press as it is called today — came from another Separatist, Thomas Brewer. Arber says:
“We suppose that we may rightly call that printing organization, which two members of the Leyden Church carried on — Thomas Brewer, the sleeping Partner, finding the money, and apparently asking no questions; and William Brewster, the working Partner, organizing and managing it — the Pilgrim Press. It produced nothing but Pilgrim books: for which cause, it was suppressed.
…It would seem that Brewer bought type only; and that Brewster arranged with some Dutch Master Printer, to print off the sheets, from the English type sent to him: and this would be quite practical, because the Press was by no means so stringently overseen in Holland as it was in London.”
The Brewster Bear, the Signature of William Brewster’s Books
Some of the books that were printed by Brewster were notable for the logo that was used — a “bear with heraldic plumes.”
A Visit to William Brewstersteeg (William Brewster Alley)
In this video, Michaël Roumen and Marike Hoogduin tell you more about the courtyard and the place where William Brewster laid out his books.
Leiden, Netherlands — Where the Mayflower Voyage Started for the Pilgrim Fathers
In 2020 the United States, England, and the Netherlands commemorated the 400-year anniversary of the Separatists — the Pilgrim Fathers — leaving Leiden after 12 years in exile. For the Pilgrim Fathers, the Mayflower journey to America started here. This video provides a quick overview of many of the historic sites in Leiden that are related to the Pilgrim Fathers.