Plymouth (Seaport municipal)

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

a seaport, municipal and parliamentary borough of England, in Devonshire, at the head of Plymouth Sound, between the estuaries of the Plym and Tamar. Taken in its largest sense, it comprehends what are called the "Three Towns," or Devonport on the W., Stonehouse in the center, and Plymouth proper on the E. The older parts of the town consist of narrow and irregular streets devoid of architectural beauty, but the newer parts and suburbs display . The The an abundance of elegant buildings 13,045. guild hall, a Gothic building, is the finest modern edifice (1870-1874), and has a tower nearly 200 feet high. The citadel, an obsolete fortification built by Charles II., is another object of interest. Ply- Lackawanna, and mouth is well defended both by land and sea, by a series of forts of exceptional and coal trading strength provided with heavy ordnance. The manufactures are not very extensive, and chiefly connected with ships' fisheries are valuble, and stores; but the Plymouth has a large export and coasting trade. Its chief importance lies in its position as a naval station. Thanks to extensive and sheltered harbors, Plymouth rose from a mere fishing village to the rank of foremost port of England under Elizabeth, and is now as a naval to Portsmouth. To in the sound The Western Harbor, or the Hamoaze (mouth of the Tamar), is specially devoted to the royal navy, and here (in dock- Devonport, which see) are the the vicyard, and Keyham steam yard; tualling yard, marine barracks, and naval hospital being in Stonehouse. The mercantile marine is accommodated in the Eastern Harbor, the Catwater (200 acres), or estuary of the Plym, and in the Great Western Sutton Pool, ol, and the World War Docks in Mill Bay. In (1914-1918) Plymouth was a naval base and for operations against the enemy, port of entry for the Canadian and other expeditionary forces. Pop. (1917)