First full day - Part 3

Plymouth
May 13, 2012

Following the green line along Armada Way in town, with a stop at the mall to buy a street map. From there I would head out past the train station to do some family research.

 Drake Circus Shopping Centre in the background.

Inside the mall.

I was glad to see a Marks & Spencer store. Ours, in Canada, was closed many years ago.

First full day - Part 2

Plymouth

May 13, 2012

Now following my route, as well as I can remember it, on the magenta coloured line from the Promenade down to the water and then into town.

It was a great day for this event in the Hoe.

Off they went alongside the Citadel and down toward the water...

... while I headed inland through the park.

The Citadel gate.

I can return on Tuesday for a tour.

Don't remember what this interesting building was.

 Rounding down by the Citadel wall.

I hope the drab block of a building I'm pointing out is Dutton's, which was to become my favourite restaurant. Their fish 'n' chips were pretty good and so were their scones. Mainly, the people were really nice and I always felt comfortable there. As I sat eating by myself I'd ponder whether or not Glenn would have liked it.

Always, boats are on the water.

The Merchants House.

The Guildhall again.

First full day explorations - May 13, 2012

Sunday May 13, 2012

It’s nice that the owner of the Bowling Green hotel actually talks to people at breakfast. I had a cheese omelette.

It was so warm and peaceful out on the Promenade in the morning … until a bicycle race started up around 11:00. A few people were fishing off a pier. It was the first time I went out without a coat.

My first full day in Plymouth may have been my favourite day there. The weather was great and there was so much to explore. I'd be doing it all on foot.

Beginning my walk, I start from the hotel (blue & yellow star) and head clockwise. The route marked in yellow is to the best of my recollection.

Heading down to the Grand Parade.

At street level looking back towards the Hoe and Promenade area.

The Citadel is in the distance to the right. Beyond that is the Barbican

  

The slightly creepy Duke of Cornwall Hotel is another Pethick building.

Another hotel, the New Continental.

Buildings in the neighbourhood.

Airport, what airport?

I believe that exressway - the big green line - is largely responsible for the feeling that Plymouth is an orphan in England. At least that was my impression. Most people probably blast right by it on their way to or from Cornwall. To make matters worse, there is no airport any more. So, when it came time for me to think of other places to go, flying wasn't an option.

Plymouth bomb map

I imagine that Plymouth would be a very different place today if it hadn't been for World War II. The city took a beating, as can be seen by all the black dots on this map. I've marked the Citadel on the lower centre. It and some other areas appear as solid white not because they didn't get bombed, but because hits weren't shown at military sites.

The city was rebuilt on a grid system - what some refer to as an American grid system, which locals seem to hate. I heard more complaints about that than the ugly architecture... and there certainly is an abundance of that. The town centre lacks character, as if a bunch of strip malls were thrown together. Otherwise Plymouth seems to photograph well, looking less worn and tired as I thought it appeared in person.

My favourite photo of Plymouth

Looking down on the Grand Parade area from The Hoe

In my mind, this picture represents the start of my exploration on the morning of my first full day in Plymouth. In reality, it was taken in the late afternoon a day before - the day I arrived, May 12th. Whatever, the weather was fine, everything was new to me and I was in the home of my ancestors. Standing here felt really good and that is mainly why I like this picture.

Quick tour of Plymouth - inland - May 12, 2012

Heading inland towards downtown through the area now known as Bretonside. The main thing to know is that's where the bus station is.

 St. Andrew's Church tower, I think. This church was gutted during the war. 

The Guildhall, opened in 1874, was burnt out during the Plymouth Blitz of 1941. I believe the current Guildhall is the 4th or 5th that was built.

Supper in town.

Quick tour of Plymouth - Barbican

Saturday May 12, 2012

This was my first visit to the Barbican and I was pretty excited. Some of my ancestors lived and worked in several buildings around here - at 3 Parade, 2 Barbican Quay, the Maritime Inn....  Luckily, this area was spared the worst of the bombing in WWII.



I was interested to see something on the railway. Thomas Stevens (my great-great-great grandfather, born in 1799) became a captain of merchant ships and later, like his father, became a shipowner and coal merchant. I had wondered how a shipping family became involved in selling coal. Well, it may have had to do, at least partially, with the arrival of the railway, if it reduced the number of sailing vessel trips needed to transport fruit from place to place.

Walking around the Barbican I smelled vinegar and beer. There are lots of drinking and eating places.

From the far side of the harbour I believe we'd be looking back at Quay Road. Follow it to the right and it becomes the Parade.

A different Co-op store in town was where I did most of my grocery shopping.

Towards the back of Sutton Harbour is more modern.

Quick tour of Plymouth - waterfront - May 12, 2012

Continuing my explorations on the first day, I'm heading from right to left along the coast towards the Barbican. The tourist information office, by the way, is in the Barbican.

 Looking back.

Tinside pool.

 Now looking ahead.

Boats are just about everywhere.