History of Plymouth

Early history

Plymouth's strategic location on the English Channel is reflected in its long maritime history. The earliest known settlement can be traced back to 1000 BC when there was a small trading port known as Mount Batten in Plymstock. Tin was brought to the town from Dartmoor via the Plym and traded with the ancient Phoenicians. Farmland on a small peninsula at the mouth of the river Plym was referred to in the Domesday Book in 1086. It was known as Sudtone, meaning South Farm and later developed into Sutton Harbour which was the centre 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.

At the time of the Domesday Book, the manor of Sutton was held by Henry I. He granted it to the Valletort family who in turn granted parts to the Augustinian priory at Plympton. In 1254, the part of the town owned by Plympton Priory was recognised by Royal Charter and its importance both as a community and a port accelerated during this period. The town and its surrounding area achieved municipal independence in 1439 when Plymouth became the first town in England to be granted a Charter by Parliament. Ships began using the port at the Plym's mouth instead of Plympton due to the river silting up. The name of the town of Sutton gradually became Plymouth instead, although the name Sutton is still important in the area. Trade with other English regions, the Baltics and Northern Europe expanded, whilst fortifications were built up to repel repeated French incursions.

Maritime significance

During the next three centuries, Plymouth developed a reputation as a centre of voyage and discovery, as well as military importance. It became the home port for many successful maritime traders, including William Hawkins and his son Sir John Hawkins who established transatlantic trade in 1528. Sir John also led England into the slave trade by kidnapping hundreds of men and women from West Africa and trading them in the Spanish colonies in the Americas.

Plymouth also saw the arrival and departure of many historical figures including Catherine of Aragon in 1501 and Pocahontas in 1616. In 1572, Sir Francis Drake became the first Englishman to sail into the Pacific.

Famous expeditions

The most famous expedition to leave Plymouth was that of the Pilgrims, whose religious beliefs were opposed by the government and desired a life where they could practice their religion freely. They set sail for the New World on board the Mayflower in 1620 and eventually landed in Plymouth Harbour where they helped establish a new community. Other well-known explorations that left from Plymouth include the three voyages made by James Cook to the southern ocean and the Pacific. Charles Darwin left Plymouth in 1831 for the Galapagos Islands, where he formulated his revolutionary theories of natural selection and the Origins of Species. In 1967 Sir Francis Chichester left Plymouth on the first ever solo circumnavigation of the globe on board his yacht Gypsy Moth IV.

The docks were expanded throughout the 18th century and a huge naval complex was later established. The population and size of the towns increased significantly during the 19th century. 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. Plymouth was granted City status in 1928 and the first Lord Mayor was appointed in 1935.

World War II devastation

Plymouth and Devonport suffered extensive bombing during World War II. The two main shopping centres and nearly every government building were destroyed, along with 20 schools and 40 churches. 1,172 people were killed and thousands more injured. Plymouth was one of the principal staging posts for the Normandy landings in June 1944. During the 1950s, the city was re-built and Plymouth's commercial heart was the first in England to incorporate pedestrian-only shopping streets. The city expanded with new housing and commercial developments and a number of other small villages have been swallowed up in a succession of boundary changes.