Plymouth: From Where The Pilgrim Fathers Sailed And Sir Francis Drake Played Bowls

We strayed from Cornwall yesterday as we had to visit Plymouth in Devon. It wasn't a particularly nice day weather-wise but I took a few photos for the blog because Plymouth is known as the place from which the Mayflower headed for North America in 1620 and is also where Sir Francis Drake supposedly played bowls before defeating the Spanish Armada in 1588.

The first landmark on the waterfront is on Plymouth Hoe and is Smeaton's Tower (photos above and below), which was built in 1759 as a lighthouse on rocks 14 miles (23 km) off shore - but was dismantled and rebuilt on the Hoe in 1877. It was here, on the Hoe, where Francis Drake played his bowls. Wikipedia describes this:

"The most famous (but probably apocryphal) anecdote about Drake relates that, prior to the battle, he was playing a game of bowls on Plymouth Hoe. On being warned of the approach of the Spanish fleet, Drake is said to have remarked that there was plenty of time to finish the game and still beat the Spaniards."

Walking along the waterfront you eventually reach the Barbican and it is from here that the Mayflower made it's way to North America in 1620. The building below commemorates this, along with the USA flag, and is known as the Mayflower Steps.

The date of the event is etched into the stones by the Mayflower Steps (photo below). There is a plaque on the sea wall which reads:

"On the 6th of September 1620, the Mayorality of Thomas Townes after being kindly entertained and courteously used by divers Friends there dwelling, the Pilgrim Fathers sailed from Plymouth in the Mayflower in the Providence of God to settle in New Plymouth and to lay the foundations of the New England States The ancient Cawsey whence they embarked was destroyed not many Years afterwards but the Site of their Embarkation is marked by the Stone bearing the name of the MAYFLOWER in the pavement of the adjacent Pier."

The sea wall has numerous plaques. The one below, for example, states: 'City of Plymouth. This tablet commemorates the departure from Plymouth in May 1839 of the Tory, the pioneer ship in the colonisation of New Zealand.'

Another plaque also tells of Walter Raleigh's involvement with Virginia in the late 1500s. It reads:

'The Roanoke Colonies. From Plymouth on 7th April 1584 Walter Raleigh sent Philip Amadas and Arthur Barlow to North America to explore & prepare for English colonisation. On 13th July they claimed land in the name of Queen Elizabeth called Virginia in her honour.'

There  are many historical naval connections with Plymouth where the tourists visit. But away from this area, like with many big cities - a population of 250,000 people, making it the 27th most populous built-up area in England and Wales - there are also problems. From the car park we used I took this photo of a man being handcuffed and searched by police.

According to Wikipedia: "Plymouth Council is currently undertaking a project of urban redevelopment called the 'Vision for Plymouth' launched by the architect David Mackay and backed by both Plymouth City Council and the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce (PCC). Its projects range from shopping centres, a cruise terminal, a boulevard and to increase the population to 300,000 and build 33,000 dwellings."

In contrast to the previous photo, one of the Barbican's old streets:

Other Recent Posts:
A Random Bus Journey To Marsaxlokk, Malta
The Power Of Magnetic Hematite Stones
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Top Ten Posts For July

A list of the top ten most viewed posts for July on 67 Not Out. There are a few older posts that still remain popular like the Red Balloon Coincidence, which has now topped 78,000 visits and Ghostly Rye, along with the Concentration Camp post, have both clocked up over 56,000 views.

A couple in the top ten (nos. 8 & 10) were published this July, and are about one of my recent trips away: a coincidence story and a ghostly photo.

1. The White Dove As A Messenger Of The Dead
One day I came home from work and a white dove was perched on the steps that lead up to the front door of my house. No doves or birds of any kind were ever previously on my steps. This white dove would not move to let me by. I made noises, waved my hand, stared at the dove ... Read full story.

2. The Ghost Who Chased A Thief
We were both asleep in our beds when I heard a sound from one of the spare bedrooms. Suddenly this turned into almost a shout and there was a crashing noise. I'm not very brave but I got up to see what was happening. As I did so I saw a man climbing out of the window saying ... Read full story.

3. Elvis Presley And Madonna's Satanic Illuminati Links
Elvis Presley was programmed by the Illuminati. We know that at times he went by code names, one which is publicly known was John Burrows. His group, called the Memphis Mafia, have talked about his ability to go into altered states of ... Read full story.

4. The Concentration Camp Romantic Coincidence
It goes back to 1944. A young man, Antonin Nowak, just 14 years of age was in a concentration camp in Poland, one of the many injustices of World War II. Through the high fence he often saw a young girl of ... Read full story.

5. Ghostly Rye: The Most Haunted Town In England
As we settled in we liked to walk around the town late at night along the cobbled streets and past the old buildings full of history, while no one else was about. Sometimes it felt like having slipped through a time zone ... Read full story.

6. The Meaning Of White Feathers As Messages From The Dead
By white feathers I mean how they can often be found following a loved ones death. This has certainly been my own experience. I lost three people close to me in a short period of time ... Read full story.

7. The Red Balloon Coincidence
It seemed the obvious thing to do for a 10 year old. Laura Buxton was at her grandparent's golden wedding anniversary and there was a helium filled balloon going spare. So she wrote on a label her ... Read full story.

8. The Lynmouth Flood Coincidence And The Town Today
There is a coincidence attached to the disaster. As mentioned the flood was in 1952 and exactly 52 years later, again on the identical night of the 15th of August, there was another nasty flood at the nearby town of ... Read full story.

9. The Devil's Great Thunderstorm Of 1638 At Widecombe On Dartmoor
Widecombe Church, dedicated to St.Pancras, has it's own claim to fame being the scene of the Great Thunderstorm of 1638. Lightning struck the church tower and part of it fell through the roof. A fire-ball then passed through the church and ... Read full story.

10. The Photo Of The Ghost Of Broomfield Cottage Tawstock
One night, however, Karin had gone up to bed and I was sitting on a settee looking out at the living room. For some reason I felt I should take a photo - the one above - and then a second one as below. These were taken within seconds of each other. Maybe it's a reflection or something, or just my imagination but in the second photo ... Read full story.

12 Random Photos Of North Devon

Summer Lovin' street art - I liked the square to look thro' to see the river

Okay, I promise that I won't bore you with any more photos of my recent break in North Devon, er, other than with this post.

The photos are completely random, there's no particular message or subject matter.

More street art with that almost Illuminati eye

Chickens! The angel's tummy says. 'Joy remains forever in the heart'

A wonky cottage bedroom door

The Pannier Market Barnstaple

Traditional Morris dancers dancing in the street, also in Barnstaple

Music for dancers - you can also go to Barnstaple 'with flowers in your hair'

Father's Day: my son remembered - the beer is Cornish Blonde, she tasted good!

Sign on a fish van reads: 'Wanted Good Woman must be able to clean,
cook, sew, dig worms and clean fish. Must have boat and motor.
Please send picture of boat and motor'

Seagull sitting on a wall with his friend the crow

Strange sculptures in a pub garden in Lynton

Finally, the cottage where we stayed, taken on a dull day as we left for home

That's it, finally - honest! But a reminder of some of the other Devon Posts:
The Photo Of The Ghost Of Broomfield Cottage Tawstock
The Red Sky And The Invasion Of The Scarecrows
The Strange Orbs And Mysterious Coincidences Of Tawstock

The Lynmouth Flood Coincidence And The Town Today

Damage caused in Lynmouth floods in 1952

One of the places we visited while in North Devon was Lynmouth. It's a beautiful spot but is still remembered for the severe floods here back in 1952, as the photo above illustrates. Many lost their lives in one of the worst floods ever known in England.

There is a coincidence attached to the disaster. As mentioned the flood was in 1952 and exactly 52 years later, again on the identical night of the 15th of August, there was another nasty flood at the nearby town of Boscastle in 2004.

The Boscastle floods were like history repeating itself. The only difference being that, by some miracle, no lives were lost.

On part of the river Lyn at Lynmouth there is a memorial garden for those whose lives were lost.

The following photo shows a bed frame that has grown into a tree and remains at the memorial garden.

Part of the memorial garden today at the Middleham area of Lynmouth.

But all is now far from doom and gloom at Lynmouth. It's a beautiful town and tourists flock to enjoy the scenery during the summer months of July and August. The following photos give a taste of the town today.

Lynmouth where the River Lyn joins the sea

Lynmouth looking inwards from the coast

Thatched pub and traditional houses at Lynmouth

Bridge over the River Lyn and the hills surrounding Lynmouth

Small shingle beach at Lynmouth, Devon

Lynmouth also has an unusual Cliff Railway that ascends some 500 feet up the side of the cliffs. It was built back in 1890 and is powered only by the weight of water, each passenger car (there are two) counter-balances the other. It's one of the most environmentally friendly ways of travelling as there are no carbon emissions.

Part of the Cliff Railway track at Lynmouth

Passenger Car at Lynmouth to Lynton Cliff Railway

Cliff Railway Lynmouth to Lynton

Travelling on the Cliff Railway from Lynmouth towards Lynton

View from Lynton at the top of the Cliff Railway

The flood of 1952 is still very much part of Lynmouth with a dedicated museum but it's a wonderful place to visit should you be anywhere nearby in North Devon.

Other recent North Devon Posts:
The Red Sky And The Invasion Of The Scarecrows
The Strange Orbs And Mysterious Coincidences Of Tawstock
The Photo Of The Ghost Of Broomfield Cottage Tawstock

A Walk In North Devon From Mortehoe

While away in North Devon we did quite a few walks. This one was from the village of Morthoe via Bull Point, Rockham Beach and Morte Point and back to the village again.

The weather wasn't as nice and sunny as we had hoped but it was dry so we put on our walking shoes and headed across country first to the lighthouse. I'd only seen it previously marked on a map so was a bit disappointed when we finally reached the building - not quite as I had imagined.

But the scenery was great, overlooking Bull Point, and we were quite high up.

We walked on along the coastal path in a westward direction, mostly with just a few sheep to keep us company.

These two sheep I discovered under a gorse bush, a mother and lamb I presume.

It was hazy but the open cliffs and hills appeared to go on forever with ...

... many wild flowers clinging to the cliffs.

The footpath stretched on for miles with lots of ups and downs.

You can still see the path in the distance continuing to the top left of the photo below.

After much puffing and panting we finally made it to Morte Point ...

... and this in turn led us back to Morthoe village ...

and the inevitable church.

Other Posts About Our North Devon Break:
The Photo Of The Ghost Of Broomfield Cottage Tawstock
The Red Sky And The Invasion Of The Scarecrows
The Strange Orbs And Mysterious Coincidences Of Tawstock
Verity The Pregnant Nude Woman Of Ilfracombe