The Hospital was completed in 1762. Its unique design of separate ward blocks, linked together by a covered walkway around a square, was an innovation in its time. During these early days some sailors were pressed men. Once sent to hospital there was an irresistible opportunity to try to escape. To prevent this a high wall was built and guards mounted at the gates and at major vantage points throughout the Hospital
Before Neswick Street was built there was a rope walk constructed on this site in about 1800. The length of a rope walk was usually 600 feet (180 metres). At one end of the walk one person would turn the 'spinner' to which the 3 or 4 'braids' were fixed. He also controlled the tension while another person walked backwards from the other end of the walk, holding the 'top' that would weave the 'braids' together to form the rope
The Works was built in the 1880s. It supplied sheet, pipe, white lead, putty, solder, oil, varnish, zinc, etc. mainly for the gas, water and roofing Industries in the Plymouth area. Working conditions in lead works were dangerous, involving the handling of corrosive substances and inhaling of poisonous fumes. As a result the life expectancy of a lead worker was far less than the average
By the late 19" century there were three major breweries supplying ales and beers for public houses throughout the Three Towns' of Plymouth, Stonehouse and Devonport. The Octagon Brewery was one of the many smaller ones started about 1899. It later owned many taverns throughout the 'Three Towns'. These Pubs displayed the distinctive brewery logo of an OB within an octagon shape. Some of the bottled favourites included OB Stout Pale Ale and Indian Pale Ale No1.
Rollerskating took England by storm and by the late 19 century Plymouth had half a dozen rinks. In May 1880 the Phoenix Hall Rink was one of the last to open. Another rink. Pavilion New Skating Rink. was located nearby in Martin Street. Various skating prizes could be won. These were usually silver cups or medals but on special occasions, prizes could even include live chickens or a pig to take home!
Mill Bay laundry was one of the largest in Plymouth. Sited nearby were the Alkali Soap & Soda Works, providing the cleaning materials, and the Railway, giving the company convenient transport of good to towns & cities throughout the West Country. In about 1780, before the laundry was established, a musket redoubt, or fort, was built here on top of a large hill. By the 1850s the hill and redoubt had been quarried away.
When the imposing Town Hall was built in the 1850s it was the tallest in East Stonehouse and was the centre of the Town administration. Sited next door were two other important buildings, the Fire Station and the Police Station. The Town Hall boasted a ballroom, measuring 40ft by 80ft and 40ft high perched above the offices. Sadly the whole building was destroyed by incendiary bombs during World War II.
Sewers were known to harbour things that were lethal to humans and the environment. In these early days of sanitisation one of these was the problem of the build-up of noxious and explosive gases such as Methane, Carbon Monoxide, etc. To solve the problem sewer lamps were installed or ventilation chimneys were built like this one (c1885) which is still in service and connected to the 'Dead Lake Sewage System'
This house first appears in the mid-17th century map alongside a boundary stone. This was the only house on this ridge alongside the leat with views over the Sound and creek. By the early 18th century the house grew into a quadrant structure, with free lined gardens that ran down to the creek's bank. Later in that century the house and its grounds were demolished to make way for the Royal Naval Hospital Cemetery,
Formally built as a hall for non-conformists in the late 1830s, by the 1870s it was the premises of the famous organ builders Hele & Co. They were to produce stops, pipes and complete organs throughout the city. A notable one was made for St Peter's Church which was later destroyed in WWII. During that period, the hall's basement was the HQ for the local Air Raid Wardens, after which the building also hosted boxing matches and acted as a gym.
Here stood what was known as 'Albert Hall' built in 1871; soon after it was known as The Royal Albert Hall. It was said to be an ugly building on the outside but very pretty and tasteful on the inside. Originally intended for concerts it could seat 2800 people and 4000 standing. By 1875 Thomas Martin the owner following a skating craze decided to put together the 'Monster Rink' here in the hall. It was later said to be the largest in the Westcountry
Sir Piers Edgcumbe of Stonehouse was able to build two mills and a new bridge c1525. This bridge with it's mills was built alongside an ancient causeway that used to link across the creek in the past. The mills would process grain for the making of bread and beer. The mills Were still going when in 1807 a toll gate with lodge was installed, much to the annoyance of the locals! By the early 1900s both The mill and toll gate had gone.
