A monument dedicated to the survivors of the Sea Venture will be erected in St. George's on Thursday.

The event was intended to be held during the Island's 400th anniversary celebrations.

It instead falls two days after the 400th anniversary of the death of Sir George Somers.

"We think that this date marks a fitting end for the anniversary celebration," said historian Dr. George Cook. "It starts with the wreck of the Sea Venture and ends with the death of Sir George Somers."

The monument, a nine foot wooden cross made from salvaged wood and decorated with a King James coin, is a recreation of the cross built by the survivors to claim the Island for England.

Both the original cross and the monument feature an engraving in English and Latin claiming the Island for King James I. The new monument will also have an engraving listing the 50 known survivors of the shipwreck.

"We believe there were around 150 survivors, but confirming the names is very difficult," said Dr. Cook. "There are five names we have right now that are of possible survivors, so we are leaving a little room."

The monument will be erected on a high point near Barry Road in St. George's, an area overlooking two points of significance: where the Sea Venture struck the reefs and where the survivors landed at Gates Bay.

Thursday's ceremony will be hosted by St. George's Mayor Kenneth Bascome. It is a joint endeavour between the St. George's Foundation and the Corporation of St. George. The ceremony will take place at 4 p.m.