Plymouth’s History – The Plymouth Hoe
Chris Robinson’s takes a look at the history of the “Plymouth Hoe” follow this trail to see parts of Plymouth’s old historic past…
The Plymouth Hoe
Plymouth Hoe, one of the finest public open spaces that any city could hope to boast; commands spectacular views that are little changed from the time Drake played bowls here, waiting for the Armada, through when Pilgrim Fathers bade farewell to their homeland, to the time tens of thousands assembled here to welcome Francis Chichester back from his historic solo round the world trip.
Even the Hoe itself (the name means ‘high ridge’) has changed little in over 100 years. Laid out as a park in the 1880’s, it was during that decade that Smeaton’s Tower was reconstructed here; that the Drake and Armada memorials were unveiled and Plymouth Pier was built.
Apart from colonnaded Belvedere, which was created in 1891, the gradual improvement of the bathing facilities between 1912 and 1935, and the opening of the Dome in 1988, there have been very few major changes.
1. Smeaton’s Tower
It was erected on the Eddystone Reef 1756-59, Replaced by Douglass’s Lighthouse in the 1880s after the rocks upon which Smeaton’s Tower were deemed to be unsafe. Work on re-erecting the original on a new plinth on the Hoe began in October 1882. Between 1860 and 1895 and then again in 1937 through to decimalisation, a depiction of the lighthouse appeared on the back of the English Penny.
2. Octagonal Look Out
IThis was built sometime around 1870 for the benefit of shipping firms, who, in the days before radio communications, could watch from here for mail steamers making their way towards the Sound. Arrangements could then be made as soon as possible for tenders to be made ready to meet the boats and whisk the postbags and important passengers onto waiting trains in Millbay.
3. Plymouth Dome
Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth II was the first official visitor here in 1988, when Plymouth celebrated the 400th anniversary of the defeat of the Spanish Armada. However the building was not opened to the public for another few months. It closed almost 20 years later.
4. Tinside Pool
Improved swimming facilities were created here in several stages between 1913 and 1935, culminating with the opening of the Hoe Lido here on 2nd October 1935. It’s apparently called Tinside because earlier, impromptu changing facilities were in a corrugated iron hut. There was also a wooden shack used for changing on the western side of the rocks and this was known as Shacky Pool.
5. Colonnaded Belvedere
Located on this site of the old bull-ring, and above it, the camera obscura … and at the head of what is the site of Plymouth Pier (which pre-dated it) the Belvedere was completed in 1891 towards the end of a decade that saw massive changes on the Hoe as it was transformed from farmland with grazing cows and sheep, to an attractive landscaped garden area.
2. Octagonal Look Out
IThis was built sometime around 1870 for the benefit of shipping firms, who, in the days before radio communications, could watch from here for mail steamers making their way towards the Sound. Arrangements could then be made as soon as possible for tenders to be made ready to meet the boats and whisk the postbags and important passengers onto waiting trains in Millbay.
3. Plymouth Dome
Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth II was the first official visitor here in 1988, when Plymouth celebrated the 400th anniversary of the defeat of the Spanish Armada. However the building was not opened to the public for another few months. It closed almost 20 years later.
4. Tinside Pool
Improved swimming facilities were created here in several stages between 1913 and 1935, culminating with the opening of the Hoe Lido here on 2nd October 1935. It’s apparently called Tinside because earlier, impromptu changing facilities were in a corrugated iron hut. There was also a wooden shack used for changing on the western side of the rocks and this was known as Shacky Pool.