Interesting Facts

Plymouth's extensive past, dating back as far as the bronze age, has seen significant growth, many famous figures and became the centre of commercial shipping, handling of imports and passengers from the Americas since the Mayflower Pilgrims departed for the New World in 1620.

With this in mind, it's fair to say Plymouth has many fascinating stories and interesting facts to catch your imagination. Here's just a few of many:

• The UK's largest aquarium, the National Marine Aquarium captivate audiences on BBC2 with their remarkable documentary series, Secrets of the Aquarium, which delves into the lives of the dedicated team as they navigate challenges, moments of heartbreak, and ultimate joy while caring for more than 5,000 incredible aquatic creatures right here in Plymouth.

• Plymouth Original Strength Gin has been distilled at England’s oldest working distillery, Black Friars on Plymouth’s historic Barbican since 1793

• Jackas Bakery, located on the Barbican, is reputed to be the oldest commercial bakery in the world still in operation

• In 1919 Nancy Astor became the first woman Member of Parliament, representing the constituency of Sutton in Plymouth

• In 1882 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle worked at a friend’s medical practice in Durnford Street, Stonehouse

• William Cookworthy discovered the process for making porcelain using clay from a Cornish quarry in 1766 and subsequently set up a factory in Plymouth

• Plymouth became the first town in Britain to receive a fresh water supply from outside its boundaries thanks to Sir Francis Drake constructing a 14-mile leat from the River Meavy on Dartmoor in 1591

• The original Eddystone Lighthouse (1698 - 1703) was the first offshore lighthouse in the world and constructed of wood. The third Eddystone Lighthouse was re-erected on Plymouth Hoe in 1882 and is a now popular tourist attraction. The fourth Eddystone Lighthouse is still in use

• Aircraftsman Shaw (better known as T E Lawrence – Lawrence of Arabia) served with the RAF in Plymouth

• The Port of Plymouth serves the biggest Naval Base in Western Europe with base ported vessels including nuclear submarines and large warships, and many ships from foreign navies visit Plymouth for Operational Sea Training

• Sir Francis Chichester left Plymouth on 27 August 1966 in his ketch Gipsy Moth IV and circumnavigated the world singlehanded, arriving back in Plymouth on 28 May 1967 after 266 days

• Sir Joshua Reynolds (first president of the Royal Academy) and Captain Bligh (of Bounty fame) were both born in Plymouth, in 1723 and 1754 respectively

• Originally Plymouth Argyle Football Club was known as Plymouth Argyll Football Club, as the founders of the club wished the team to emulate the style of football played by the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. The name was later changed to ‘Argyle’ because the founding members had rooms in Argyle Terrace in Plymouth

• Plymouth sided with the Parliamentarians during the English Civil War and the Royalists, once returned to overall power, placed cannons facing both towards the sea and the town to remind Plymothians of the future consequences should they repeat their stance against the monarchy

• Since 1850 Plymouth has been a destination for cruise liners, including trans-Atlantic ships. Famous people to have disembarked at Millbay include Walt Disney, Charlie Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy

• The main retail area of Plymouth was largely destroyed during the Second World War. Sir Patrick Abercrombie and James Paton Watson designed the ‘Plan for Plymouth’ and the resulting retail centre is now one of the best examples of 1950s architecture in the world

• Captain Cook left Plymouth on the Endeavour in 1768 on his first voyage

• Prior to the departure of the Pilgrim Fathers aboard the Mayflower in 1620, Richard Grenville had left Plymouth in 1584 and set up the Roanoke Colonies in America

• In 1787, the convict ships ‘Friendship’ and ‘Charlotte’ sailed from Plymouth carrying men and women to Australia

• A young Charles Darwin left Plymouth Barbican on The Beagle in 1831

• Catherine of Aragon – first wife of Henry VIII – arrived in Plymouth in 1501

• In 1838, the Tolpuddle Martyrs landed on the Barbican

• Napoleon left Plymouth on the Bellepheron in 1815 on his way to exile in St. Helena

• In 1990, ‘Snorkel’ the Loggerhead Turtle washed ashore on a Cornish beach was rescued and moved to Plymouth’s National Marine Aquarium. Early in 2008 ‘Mad Jack’, a 12 pound lobster thought to be at least 100 years old became another notable resident of the Aquarium

For more interesting facts about Plymouth see the Plymouth Book of Wonder