Trifter

I lived in Plymouth for a while and I still have family in the area, the city has a special place in my heart and in this article I will share some of my favourite places with you.

Plymouth Hoe

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Plymouth Hoe is a short walk from the city centre, it is very blustery in bad weather but it is always enjoyable to look out across the Hoe towards Drake’s Island, to see the ships in The Sound.

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As you walk along towards the Barbican you will see Smeaton’s Tower, set back a little further is a statue of Sir Francis Drake and a little further on are the sea facing fortifications of the Royal Citadel. Wherever you turn you come face to face with history

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The Merchant’s House

The Merchants House is tucked away in a side road very close to the city centre. The building dates back to around 1600, it is now a museum and each of the seven rooms of the house are based on different aspects of Plymouth’s social history. If you visit the museum you will find out about some of the early residents of the house and life in the city at that time. There are so many interesting things to see including a ducking stool, truncheons and manacles, a huge old dolls house and old shop signs. My favourite room is an old fashioned school room that can be used by school groups studying Victorian history. Up on the third floor there is another surprise, a Victorian chemist’s shop, visitors can wander around, find out about pill making and discover some or the remedies available at that time. It may look small but the Merchant’s House Museum is well worth a visit.

The Barbican

The Barbican is an area of old buildings and cobbled streets clustered around Sutton Harbour. I never tire of visiting the Barbican, I love looking at the shops especially the ones that sell paintings and prints. Tucked away on New Street (which is not new at all) is the Elizabethan House museum, it is the furnished home of an Elizabethan merchant or sea captain. It is an amazing place to visit and I believe it can even be booked as a wedding venue.

The sea has always been a big influence on the life of Plymouth people, fishing was a major part of the economy, it is still important but on a much smaller scale. The harbour is always busy with boats of all kinds, leisure craft as well as fishing boats and you will hear the shouts of boatmen offering boat trips to view the dockyard, to see local scenery or wildlife or to go fishing.

There are many places to eat and drink on the Barbican, there is somewhere to suite every taste and every price range. The Ship holds a special place in my heart because many years ago I went there with my future husband on our very first date.

Cap’n Jaspers

A visit to Plymouth is not complete without a trip to Cap’n Jaspers. It is an outdoor cafe with a huge personality and wonderful food. Most important of all it offers very good value. A walk along Plymouth Hoe should always lead you to the relative shelter of Sutton Harbour and a hot drink at Cap’n Jaspers. The views are amazing, pleas click on the Cap’n Jaspers link to see a Selection of Barbican Photos.

The Mayflower Steps

Close to Cap’n Jaspers you will notice the ‘Plymouth Prawn’ it is impossible to miss it! To the side of the Prawn you will see a small archway in front of some steps leading down to the harbour. This was built to mark the spot (as closely as possible) where the Pilgrim Fathers put into port and waited for the ship to be loaded before embarking on their long voyage. Many would have taken lodgings in the surrounding houses.

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As you walk around Plymouth keep your eyes open because you will find little glimpses of history around every corner.