The Picture of Plymouth
Being a correct guide to the public establishments, charitable institutions, amusements
and remarkable objects in the towns of Plymouth, Plymouth-Dock, Stonehouse, Stoke
And Their Vicinity. Also A List Of The Principal Inhabitants Of Those Towns.
Plymouth. Rees & Curtis. 1812. First edition.
The following is a transcription from the above book - starting at page 99 - only the Plymouth Dock (Devonport) sections are transcribed.
PLYMOUTH DOCK
Is a modern town, deriving its first name from the old town, and the
latter from the establishment of one of his Majesty’s dock-yards here, which took
place towards the latter end of the reign of King William III., from which period
it has been continually increasing, and has advanced from being originally a petty
hamlet to an exceedingly large town, of greater extent, and far more populous, than
its parent Plymouth. It is situated farther to the westward than Stonehouse, being
less than a mile distant from it, and stands on a plasant eminence between Stonehouse
Creek and the harbour of Hamoaze, which is that part of the Tamar that forms the
harbouur here. The town has been erected on an extensive plain, in a very desirable
situation, both as respects the free circulation of air, and the delightful prospects
that may be seen from it in every direction; of which, however, no advantage has
been made in the laying out the streets. It was naturally deficient in that necessary
article of life, water, and for some time the inhabitants suffered much inconvenience
from an inadequate supply of it, being obliged to purchase it of persons who carried
it about in barrels on horses and asses; but in the year 1792, an application was
made to Parliament to establish a Company, who are called the “Plymouth Dock Water
Company,” with powers to bring a stream from the borders of Dartmoor to the town,
a distance, from the circuitous course, of nearly thirty miles. This was an object
of such vast importance to the inhabitants, that it is surprising how they could
manage to do without it; and one should have thought that all persons would have
combined in endeavouring to obtain it; but, unhappily, a foolish jealousy which
had long existed between the two towns of Plymouth and Dock, operated so powerfully
on the minds of the Corporation of the former, as to induce them to oppose the progress
of the Bill in Parliament; fortunately, however, without effect. This spirit of
rivalship seems now to be gradually wearing off. The enlightened part of the inhabitants
of both towns begin to perceive that their interests are the same, and that whatever
promotes the prosperity of Plymouth Dock will essentially affect Plymouth and the
neighbourhood. What, indeed, is the foundation of the prosperity of the whole neighbourhood
but the establishment of the naval arsenal, which has given rise to all the numerous
departments of government that at present abound here.
Plymouth Dock is a fortified
town, and therefore does not admit of any increase of buildings within its lines.
The superabundance of its population has rendered it necessary to have recourse
to the erection of a new town without the lines, named Morice Town, from the circumstance
of the whole parish wherein it is situated, having been formerly the ole property
of the family of Sir Wiliam Morice, Bart. As it is now of Sir John St. Aubyn, Bart.
Who inherits it from the Morice family, with the exception of two estates, called
Ford, and Swilly, the glebe, and ground purchased by Government. The ancient village
of Stoke has likewise of late years so much increased in size, as to warrant its
being called another town.
Plymouth Dock, Morice Town, Stoke, and the whole parish
of Stoke Damarell, except the parts before alluded to, are now the property of
Sir John St. Aubyn, Bart. And constitute the manor of Stoke Damarell in which
a Court Leet and Court Baron are annually held at Michaelmas.
The streets of this
town are regular, but not in general well built, though some excellent houses, with
handsome brick fronts, have been of late years added; they nearly intersect each
other at right angles; their general width is from 30 to 50 feet, and they are
well paved. It is true of this town, as well as of Plymouth, that the foot-paths
are paved with marble, and they receive such a polish from the friction occasioned
by the feet of passengers and the action of the water, as to give them a very beautiful
appearance when washed by a shower. The streets are kept much cleaner, and are in
general more level, as well as wider, more convenient and pleasant, than those of
Plymouth. It is, however, most extraordinary, that they are neither lighted nor
watched; a few lamps are scattered here and there, which have the effect of reminding
passengers that there are such things as public houses, and inviting them in to
take a glass. It is said that these lamps were put up by order of the Magistrates,
but we are well assured it is a misstatement; for they well know they have no power
to order any thing of the sort to be done, nor can we imagine they would have recommended
it, since they must have been aware that such a small number of lights would only
make darkness more visible, and hold out a lure to the thoughtless and irresolute.
We shall proceed now to give a pretty full account of the
DOCK YARD
Conceiving it to be an object that will interest strangers more than any
other in this neighbourhood; prefacing what we have to say, by informing them, that
an application must be made to the commissioner for leave to see the yard, and
that it is prudent to send a note the evening before the day, in order that you
may obtain leave, and begin your inspection early; for strangers are very often
commencing their walk about noon, just at the time the shipwrights and other artificers
are leaving work.
The Dock-Yard, even in its present unfinished state, is acknowledged
to be one of the finest in the world, When it was first used as a naval arsenal,
is uncertain; but as the bason and its dock are the most ancient, though not made
till the reign of William the Third, it seems evident that this was a place of little
consequence before that period. The dock-yard is separated from the town by a wall
of slate and lime-stone, in some places thirty feet high, extending from North Corner
on the north, to Mutton Cove on the south. The area within these bounds is seventy-one
acres, and thirty-six poles, inclusive of the projecting parts of the jetties. But
a small part is the property of Government sixty-five acres, two roods and twenty-three
poles, being held of Sir John St. Aubyn, on a lease for twenty-one years, subject
to an annual rent of 50s. per acre; and a fine of £534.4s 6d. or three years’ value,
on every renewal, which must be made every seven years, under the penalty of an
entire forfeiture of the lease. The first lease, granted by Sir William Morice in
the year 1728, was for forty acres only; the remaining part was enclosed in 1768.
The entrance to the dock-yard from the land side is from Fore-street, by a large
gate for carriages, &c. and a small one for foot passengers. These are guarded with
the utmost vigilance by three under porters, and two military sentinels, who suffer
no person to enter, who is not well known, or in uniform, without an order in writing
from the commissioner. Immediately within the gates is the master porter’s house;
nearly in front of which a reservoir is intended to be made, to admit the water
which has been lately brought into the yard. Near this house is a small neat chapel,
consisting of two aisles, and a tower: the tower and one aisle were erected in the
year 1700, as appears by the following inscription over the south door:-
In the 11th Year of the Reign of King William the Third, An. Dom. 1700, this Chapel
was founded and built by the generous and pious Contributions of Officers and Seamen
belonging to a Squadron of Men of War, paid off in this Yard (after ten Years' expensive War with France), being propagated and carried on by the Industry and
religeous Endeavours of George St. Lo, Esq. Commissioner of the said Yard, and Comptroller
of the said Pay.
The other aisle was erected by the reverend Mr. Hughes, the late incumbent, on the
condition that he should receive the emolument arising from letting the pews; which
he continued to do until the year 1787, when Government returned the sum he had
expended in the buildings, and appropriated the chapel exclusively to the officers
and artificers of the navy and dock-yard. Besides a regular stipend, paid by government,
the Chaplain receives two-pence per month from the pay of each
of the officers and seamen belonging to the ships laid up in the ordinary. In front
of the Chapel is the Military Guard Office, and over it the Navy Pay Office. A captain's
guard of marines do duty here, and, in addition to them, a great number of watchmen
are employed during the night, all of whom are labourers belonging to the yard.
From the gates, a flat paved road, skirted with elms, leads to the officers dwelling
houses, which are thirteen in number, built of brick, three stories high, with kitchens
beneath, and pleasant gardens behind; in front is a double row of lime trees. The
houses are inhabited by the Commissioner, master shipwright, his three assistants,
two masters attendant, clerks of the checque, survey, and rope-yard, the storekeeper, surgeon, and boatswain.