The History of Plymouth

Plymouth stands between moorland to the north
and the English Channel to the south, and is
flanked by the river Plym to the east and the
river Tamar to the west. The Tamar forms a
natural border between the city in the county of
Devonshire, and the county of Cornwall.

The origins of Plymouth can be traced back to
Saxon times, more than a thousand years ago,
and its history very much reflects its maritime
location. Farmland on a small peninsula at the
mouth of the river Plym, referred to in the Domesday Book in 1086 as Sudtone, meaning South Farm, developed into Sutton Harbour, the hub of medieval Plymouth. The earliest record of cargo leaving Plymouth dates from 1211, and for the next two centuries trade through Plymouth flourished, particularly during the 100 Years War with France.

During the second world war large parts of
Plymouth were destroyed, but lots of the Barbican
area survived with its interesting mediaeval streets
and Tudor Dwellings. The Barbican is a warren of
quirky narrow streets and alley ways, adjacent to
Sutton Harbour, the originalseaport of this historic
area.

The Barbican is full of history, perhaps the most
celebrated expedition to leave Plymouth was that
of the Pilgrims to form the Plymouth Colony in
America. The Pilgrim Fathers set sail from
Plymouth on the 16th September 1620 in the
Mayflower captained by Myles Standish steering a
course for Virginia. The ship was a double decked,
three masted vessel.

However a storm blew them off course and they
reached land at Cape Cod which they renamed
Plymouth Rock. They dropped anchor on 21st
November 1620,they reached the site that was to
become Plymouth Colony on 21st December 1620
and established their own government. The
Mayflower Memorial marks a point close to which
they last walked on English soil before crossing
the Atlantic.

Further explorations that left from Plymouth
ncluded three voyages to the southern ocean and
the Pacific made by James Cook, the first in 1768.
He was the first explorer to set foot on what are
now the Hawaiian Islands, where he died in 1779.

In 1831 Charles Darwin left Plymouth for the Galapagos Islands, where he formulated his revolutionary theories of natural selection and the Origins of Species.

There were many other groups of settlers who set sail for different parts of the New World – Australia, America, Canada and New Zealand, including convicts, among them the Tolpuddle Martyrs in 1834 who, having been fully pardoned, were back sooner than they had anticipated and who spent several nights in 1838 in the Dolphin Hotel here before returning to Dorset.

In New Street you will find the 'Elizabethan House',
a beautifully restored Captain's dwelling dating
from 1548. In the house, you can see the original
windows, spiral staircase winding around an old
ship's mast. A short stroll further along the street
brings you to the entrance of the restored
Elizabethan Gardens, with their ornate pond and
tranquil atmosphere.

Raleigh, Drake, Hawkins and Captain Cook, all
strolled through the Barbican before setting off
from this historic area on their voyages. In more
modern times, Scott of the Antarctic set off from here on his final expedition to the South Pole.

In Southside Street stands the distillery of Plymouth
Gin which has been produced since 1793 exported
to dozens of countries around the world,guided
tours of the distillery areavailable throughout the
year.

F.H.JACKA Britain's oldest commercial bakery is
F.H.Jacka in Plymouth,Devon.Based in Southside
Street on the historic Barbican,it was operating at
least as long ago as the 16th century, and was
open when Sir Francis Drake played bowls on Plymouth Hoe before turning his attention to the Spanish Armada.Jacka's also served
the Pilgrims' boats before they headed for
America. This photo above is of Fone
Warren Bakery,38 Southside Street: c1900
now known as Jacka's Bakery. Next door
was Hingston Brothers Blockmakers at 37
Southside Street. Many families cooked their
dinners at Jacka's in their ovens during the
war. The image includes: Kate Warren
(holding the baby), John Fone Warren
(child standing) and Leslie Fone Warren
(the baby)

Plymouth Hoe provides a great, relaxing view-point to watch ships sail in and out of Plymouth Sound,with views out to Drake's Island, Mount Batten,Mount Edgecumbe Park and the Eddystone Lighthouse.Dotted with memorials to Plymouth's past.

Also located within the Plymouth Hoe is Smeaton's Tower a world famous lighthouse. Built in 1759, Smeaton's Tower was the fourth tower
to guide ships safely through Plymouth's port. It
replaced the earlier Rudyerd Tower (1709) which was
set ablaze when the lantern house caught fire. John
Smeaton's replacement on Eddystone's Tower was
to be as solid as an oak,able to withstand the
elements where the previous lighthouses had failed.
His new construction was a complete success and
his use of joint masonry would become a template
for the construction of other lighthouses throughout
the world. Indeed, Smeaton's Tower would still stand
on Eddystone's Rock were it not for the fissures in
 the rock caused by the undermining of the sea. After a sound 127 years of service, Smeaton's Tower had become a landmark dearly loved by Plymouth's residents. Although new technology had now superseded Smeaton's Tower, in 1882 Plymouth's locals raised funds to have it dismantled and re-erected on Plymouth's Hoe – a testament and a tribute to Smeaton's engineering brilliance. On your visit, you can climb the 93 steps to the top of Smeaton's Tower.

Lying adjacent to the east side of the Plymouth Hoe is the Royal Citadel. An awesome fortification whether seen from land or sea, the Royal Citadel is bounded by 70ft walls. It lies on the site of Plymouth Fort which was originally constructed in 1596 at the request of Sir Francis Drake who feared for Plymouth's safety in the face of the antagonistic
Spanish Armada.

After England's Civil War
and the Dutch Wars,
Charles II realised it was
high time to protect his
interests and work on the
Royal Citadel began.
However, Plymouth's
enthusiastic support for
Oliver Cromwell and the Parliamentarian cause was not easily forgotten.

Having enemies both at home and abroad, the Royal Citadel was marked by an unusual feature with guns pointing both out to sea and inland towards the city. The Royal Citadel is now home to the 29th Commando Regiment of the Royal Artillery and its Baroque Gate is still manned by armed sentries. However, between May and September, the Royal Citadel's doors are opened to the public for tours by Blue Badge guides. Plymouth's importance both as a community and a port accelerated during this period. In 1254 its town status was recognised by Royal Charter, and in 1439 Plymouth was the first town in England to be granted a Charter by Parliament. Trade with other English regions, the Baltics and Northern Europe expanded,
whilst fortifications were built up to repel repeated
French incursions. During the next three centuries
Plymouth established its reputation both as a centre
for voyage and discovery, and for its military
importance. Transatlantic trade originated with
William Hawkins in 1528. His son John laid the
foundations of an organised naval force.

In 1690 the first Royal Dockyard opened on the banks
of the Tamar west of Plymouth. Further docks were
built in 1727, 1762 and 1793, and a huge naval
complex was later established, including the
communities of Plymouth Dock and Stonehouse.
The Navy's role during war against Napoleon's
France was pivotal, and in 1812 a mile-long
breakwater was laid to protect the fleet.
Throughout the nineteenth century the population
and physical size of the towns increased dramatically. In 1824 Plymouth Dock was renamed Devonport, and in 1914 the three towns of Plymouth, Devonport and Stonehouse were united as the Borough of Plymouth. In 1928 Plymouth was granted City status, and the first Lord Mayor was appointed in 1935.

Plymouth was heavily bombed during the Second World War. Plymouth's and Devonport's centres were destroyed. Re-built in the 1950s, Plymouth's commercial heart was the first in England to incorporate pedestrian-only shopping avenues. Since the war the city has expanded, with new housing and commercial developments and absorption of what once were neighbouring communities.

This is just a small part of Plymouths past so we leave the rest for you to come and explore. Why not book a holiday in the city of Plymouth.