Plymouth
Plymouth Plymouth is the largest city in the county of Devon, in south west England. It is situated at the mouths of the rivers Plym and Tamar and overlooks one of Europe’s largest natural harbours, Plymouth Sound. It is a city with a maritime history of great importance, and still today plays a major role because of its deep-water harbour. In 1588, Sir Francis Drake set sail from here to defeat the Spanish Armada on bequest of Queen Elizabeth the 1st. Its name has been adopted by dozens of Plymouths around the world and in New England America. History Plymouth’s origins can be traced back more than 3,000 years to a small Iron Age settlement at Mountbatten. There is some evidence to suggest that people in the area were trading tin with the Phoenicians before the arrival of the Romans, and in Saxon times it was known as a fishing village. Farmland on the mouth of the River Plym became Sutton Harbour, the heart of medieval Plymouth. Plymouth grew in importance as a community and as a port during this period. In 1254 its status was confirmed by Royal Charter, and in 1439 Plymouth was the first town in England to be granted a Charter by Parliament. During the Hundred Years War, Plymouth traded increasingly with the rest of England, the Baltics and Northern Europe, whilst fortifications were erected to protect the town from French invasion. Over the succeeding centuries, Plymouth became known as a centre for voyage and discovery, and its military importance increased. Plymouth’s maritime and military significance has been a major factor in the development of the city’s character, and can be seen in the city’s architecture and layout. What to See & Do in Plymouth