Pre-Raphaelite?

Another Lady in Red

Never two days the same.

Both pictures were taken from the same spot, at the same time of day (0830hrs), and only ten days apart.

The top one was taken yesterday, (28th March) and the bottom one on 18th March.

No, it wasn't shot in black and white. This is all the colour there was.

Living at the water's edge is not everyone's cup of tea.

The memorial on Plymouth Hoe

Plymouth has been a military town for many centuries so there are many memorials, some grand and imposing, others small and intimate, which commemorate important campaigns in the nation's history, undertaken by forces with a strong local connection. They range from Drake's defeat of The Spanish Armada through the two World Wars to more recent episodes.

But perhaps the least well known of these memorials is this small cross set in the tarmac on one of the paths across Plymouth Hoe.

This small cross marks the spot of the last public execution in the city.

Derek Tait a well known local historian explains what happened.

  " This marks the spot where three Royal Marines were executed by firing squad on 6 July, 1797. Their names were Lee, Coffy and Branning and they were found guilty of attempting to excite a mutiny at Stonehouse Barracks. 

Ten thousand men of the Fleet and garrison were there to watch them die and most of Plymouth appeared to have turned out too. When the three men faced the firing squad and the shots were fired, Coffy and Branning fell forward, dead, into their coffins. However, Lee was not hit and had to go through the whole procedure again. The reserve firing squad lined up, took aim and fired but again Lee was untouched. Once more, they loaded up, took aim but again missed Lee. In the end, a sergeant came up behind him and shot him dead at close range. It seems odd that the firing squad missed Lee three times and perhaps there was some sympathy with him amongst the troops.

Earlier fourteen seamen had been hanged at the yardarm on their ships in the Sound.
This was to be Plymouth's last public execution".

Visit Derek Tait's website

Hanging out

The weather was superb again yesterday,

 but no matter how warm it gets these young guys will not be parted from their woolly hats.

Jumping Jack Flash

The sunshine adds a little bounce to your spirits.

The warmest day of the year, so far.

Today is the first day of British Summer time, the clocks have gone forward one hour 

and yesterday heralded the new season with the warmest day of the year so far.

In the streets and parks colour began to re-emerge, after a long, drab winter.

Early morning on the river.

For the last couple of weeks we have had a lot of very misty days but earlier this week we had a rare, crystal clear start to a beautiful day.

Early that morning I was lucky to be looking down on River Lynher, just a hundred or so metres from where it joins the River Tamar.

HMS Monmouth returns to port.

There was a one man welcome back party, well two if you count me, waiting to greet HMS Monmouth 

as she sailed into Plymouth Sound,  last Friday morning.

The Diamond Jubilee

On Tuesday, the Queen was at Westminster Hall for one of the first major state events 

to mark the Diamond Jubilee, (60 years), of her accession to the throne.

The event was beamed around the world but on a cold, damp day few paused 

to watch the screen in Plymouth City Centre.

The great and the good assembled to hear Addresses of Loyalty from the Commons and the Lords and to unveil  the new Diamond Jubilee Window marking the event.

Lady in Red

Chocolate or Strawberry

I'll take one of each please.

The odd one out.

There is always something that ends up in the wrong pile. 

Spring has sprung.

Well it certainly has at the local Garden Centres as they get ready for the Easter Rush

Kaleidoscopic Rails

The rails along the quayside in The Royal William Yard.

Started out like this.

Colour Coordinated

Spring-time colour coordination for this house on one of Plymouth's many steep hills.

Smeaton's Tower

This famous Plymouth landmark was originally built on the Eddystone Reef, 14 miles off shore, in 1759.but was taken down in the 1880s when it was discovered that the sea was undermining the rock it was standing on.

About two thirds of the structure was moved, stone by stone, and re-erected in its present site on Plymouth Hoe.

It stands 72 feet high and is open to the public all year round.

Workmen are getting everything ready to begin repainting. It was last done 8 years ago.

Blue and Grey

As I passed by, I was attracted by the muted colours of the sheltered terrace of this bistro, 

which overlooks the Sutton Harbour Marina. 

Charlestown Harbour (4)

Sometimes, when you look at a scene through half closed eyes, you can see it as it used to be long. long ago.

But actually I prefer using that marvellous program FotoSketcher.

Charlestown Harbour (3)

Up aloft

Even though they were safely tied up alongside, as the wind rose and the skies darkened, 

there was some concern from the deck party.

Charlestown Harbour (2)

The Square Sail Fleet consists of these three vessels.

Above from left to right they are (i) Earl of Pembroke, (ii) Kaskelot (iii) Phoenix

Here they are viewed from the other angle.

For full details of the history and specifications of each vessel, together with her film credits

Click here for Kaskelot

Click here for Earl of Pembroke

Click here for Phoenix

Charlestown Harbour (1)

On Thursday I visited the beautifully preserved, Grade 2 listed, Georgian Harbour of Charlestown,

on the outskirts of St Austell in Cornwall, about 25 miles from Plymouth.

The harbour is the home port for three beautiful square riggers 

which are employed in film and television work all over the world. 

More details tomorrow.

The first glimpse of spring blossom

The very first blossom is beginning to show on these trees in this austere courtyard in the Royal William Yard.

Reflection and Reality

I took these shots on Monday, in the Royal William Yard at Stonehouse, when the winter sun painted everything in sharp relief. If you could keep out of the wind it was a pleasantly warm early spring day, however if you couldn't escape the strong breeze, it barely rose above zero C.

I prefer the reflection to the reality of this simple scene.

The Seagull War

Following the introduction of the bird proof waste bins the gulls are fighting back,

and Sir Francis Drake has sustained a minor head wound.

The Bremen sails with the tide

The visiting German ship Bremen (F207), eased away from her berth in the Naval Dockyard, was escorted down the Tamar and into Plymouth Sound on Monday afternoon.

Local Produce in the covered market.

But I'm not to sure how local the bananas are?

HMS Vengeance emerges from the fog.

All shipping movement in Plymouth Sound and in the River Tamar came to a standstill on Friday morning, (2nd March), as the nuclear powered submarine, HMS Vengeance, 150 metres (492 feet) long, sailed into Plymouth Sound and up river to her specially converted dock to begin a refit.

This should have happened on Thursday but had to be postponed because of fog. However conditions improved, and surrounded by tugs and numerous security craft, she completed the final leg of her current voyage.

The Royal Navy Dockyard at Devonport

As the Ferry crosses between Devonport and Torpoint you have quite a good view of one small section of the dockyard, in the vicinity of the Frigate Complex. The yard actually stretches for four miles along the shore of the Tamar and covers a land area of 650 acres.

The Frigate Complex provides 3 entire dry docks with all the support facilities, enabling a dry weather working environment throughout the year.






This is a visiting German Frigate, The Bremen, moored at one of the 25 tidal berths along the waterfront.








Nowadays the Dockyard is not solely committed to the support of the Royal navy.


This beautiful white yacht, Va Va 2, is 96 metres long and is the latest Super Yacht to be launched here.

It is currently under going sea trials, and to take a close look at her under power Click Here

The Torpoint Ferry

The ferry crossing between Devonport and Torpoint, on the Cornish shore of the River Tamar, 

operates 24 / 365, or this year 24 / 366.

 At peak times of the day there are three ferries operating.

Each of these vehicle and pedestrian chain ferries, is capable of carrying 73 cars and can accommodate lorries of up to 44 tonnes.