Plymouth: People and Places Trivia Quiz

Answer: Devonport

Devonport, before WW2, had one of the best shopping areas in Plymouth, but much of it was absorbed into the Naval Dockyard when the South Yard was expanded. Recently the Admiralty has released this area for public use again, and there is a lot of redevelopment happening all around Devonport.
The three towns, once amalgamated, were known as Plymouth, and City status was awarded in 1928.

Answer: The Pelican

Drake set out in 1577 with five small ships, intending to circumnavigate the globe. They were to sail through the Straits of Magellan and see what lay beyond. The Golden Hind weighed only 100 tons and had a crew of about 100, of whom only 56 survived to reach England once more. Drake spent much time sacking Spanish settlements around the Pacific, and eventually sailed for home via the Moluccas with a cargo of treasure and spices, arriving in Plymouth in 1580. Drake was knighted by Queen Elizabeth l at Deptford for this exploit, and was a rich man from then on.

Answer: The Revenge

The commander of the Naval force that attacked the Armada was Lord Howard of Effingham. Drake was one of his Vice Admirals, and had a certain amount of past history when it came to the Spanish. He was really little more than a pirate at times, seizing Spanish treasure ships on many occasions. Despite this bad behaviour, he did a lot of good for Plymouth - it was he who provided the town with its first proper water supply, which was brought from the river Meavy on Dartmoor, by way of 'Drake's Leat', which can still be seen.
There is still a bowling green on Plymouth Hoe.

Answer: Nancy, Viscountess Astor

Nancy Astor was an American, married to Viscount Astor of Cliveden. She entered Parliament in December 1919, and was the first woman to take her seat. Constance Markiewicz actually beat her to the post, being elected in 1918 as the Sinn Fein member for Dublin; she never took her seat.
Lady Astor had a volatile relationship with Sir Winston Churchill, and once told him that if he were her husband, she would poison his tea. He replied 'Madam, if I were your husband, I'd drink it.' She retired from politics in 1945.

Answer: Michael Foot

Michael Foot was the son of Isaac Foot, a Plymouth solicitor who was himself MP for Bodmin, a councillor, and served as Lord Mayor of Plymouth. They were a famous Liberal family, and all his sons did well. Hugh Foot, Lord Caradon, was the Permanent British Representative at the UN. Sir Dingle Foot became an MP and was the Solicitor General in the Wilson Government. Hugh's son was Paul Foot, a prominent writer and investigative reporter.

Answer: John Smeaton

Smeaton was a Yorkshireman. His lighthouse - which is known as Smeaton's Tower - stood on the Eddystone Reef from 1759 until the 1880s, but had to be replaced when the sea started to undermine the rocks on which it stood.
You can visit the tower, although it's a stiff climb up the spiral staircase. It's well worth it though, as you get wonderful views from the top.

Answer: The Tamar

The River Tamar is beautiful. It's about 50 miles long and flows between high, wooded banks. You can take river trips up it from the Barbican in Plymouth, passing the Naval Dockyard (always worth a look) and stopping in places of interest such as Morwellham Quay and Calstock. There is a lot of history on this river.

Answer: They are aimed towards the town as well as out to sea.

Plymouth supported the side of Parliament during the English Civil war (1642 -49) and it is said that Charles ll, in whose reign the Citadel was built, distrusted the citizens of Plymouth ever after. He arranged it so that guns could be trained onto the town in the event of another uprising against the Crown.

Answer: The Breakwater

The Breakwater is a mile long and was built during the Napoleonic Wars. It was commenced in 1811 and consists of more than 4 million tons of stone, mostly mined locally, faced with thousands of square feet of masonry. It lies about 2 1/2 miles offshore.

The engineer who built it was John Rennie. It provides a safe passage for ships into the Hamoaze, which is the part of the harbour into which the River Tamar flows. There is a small lighthouse on the Breakwater.

Answer: The Barbican

There are lots of Tudor buildings still in existence here, as well as part of what were the old Town Walls of Plymouth. A monument of great interest to American visitors are the Mayflower Steps, which is where the Pilgrim Fathers are said to have left from when they set sail for Virginia in 1620. (In fact, the real steps are said to be in the cellars of the Admiral Macbride pub which is just across the road).