This tour covers the southern and most historic part of Devonport’s Royal Naval Dockyard as well as part of the town itself. The tour will provide a rare opportunity to see a fascinating mix of historic buildings and structures, many still in use. Adjacent streets were annexed in the 20^th century but are now being released for civilian re-use.

The historic buildings are mostly of limestone (one now a museum). They include plain but imposing roperies, pay office, spinning house, tarred yarn stores and a commemorative gazebo. Outstanding are two 18^th century slipways with vast clear-span roofs (strutted gambrel) of early 19^th century date. There are numerous fine incidental buildings and 20^th century structures, and also the Devonport Market House (1852) with its elegant ironwork interior, which is part of the area now being released.

An instructive mix of architectural, historic, social and economic factors apply. These contribute to the wider consideration of sustainability issues, particularly on the “Devonport (town) side of the wall”.

This provides a truly ‘hands-on’ option. In particular, to understand the vernacular and tradition of earthen based (cob) wall construction. This is local to the southwest, but has counterparts elsewhere in Britain and the rest of the world! Besides the nature of cob itself (subsoil, straw and water), this is a reminder of how mass-wall structures behave. Ancient methods are being reassessed and show scope for adaptation to meet the needs of the 21^st century and beyond.

Bring some old/protective outer clothing and footwear and (rubberised) gloves. This option needs dry weather and June is Plymouth’s driest month!

This walking tour will concentrate on the city centre, largely rebuilt after World War II: the Abercrombie plan of wide streets, open spaces and a hierarchy of building groups.

Instructive examples of civic design and good building of the middle 20^th century will be seen including churches, banks, the Civic Centre, commercial and market buildings, but also older components including St Andrew’s Church, the Guildhall and other earlier survivors. Master planning, layout, building design, landscape works, traffic management and further redevelopment are all here: insights into past and current approaches towards the conservation, change and sustainability of Plymouth’s city centre.

This tour includes Sutton Harbour and the adjacent Barbican. This natural harbour was where Plymouth began to develop as a small fishing and trading port during the 13^th and 14^th centuries. As the town gained importance (16^th - 17^th centuries) it expanded in all directions, beyond the town’s defences. The Barbican largely escaped destruction during World War II and is now Plymouth’s most overtly historic area with a lively mix of uses. This tour combines some fine waterfront views, historic streets and buildings from five centuries up to the present day. There are survivals of domestic, commercial, maritime and defensive buildings, including warehouses, merchants’ houses, taverns, the Old Custom House and the New Custom House of 1810. The recent National Marine Aquarium and Fish Market lie on the opposite side of the harbour.

The East End, although often overlooked, has always been the more commercial part of the city. The land was shaped by large scale quarrying through the 18^th – 20^th centuries, and in one instance the quarrying exposed caves containing human remains dating back to the last Ice Age. Although now undergoing a large-scale regeneration, the area retains many links to it’s past including the China House, part of the complex built by William Cookworthy in 1768 to house his porcelain manufacturing business.

Sutton Harbour and the East End include a thriving marina, and are the focus of continuing conservation, adaptation and dramatic development proposals already afoot, including major residential schemes.

This tour provides a rich, even provocative, mix.

Enclosed by massive limestone walls with an outstanding entrance portal (1670), the Citadel was begun in 1666 (Charles II) as the military HQ for Plymouth and to guard the harbour entrance. Although now a Scheduled Ancient Monument, it is still in use and incorporates an array listed of limestone buildings including Governor’s House (late 17^th century), guardroom, stores, accommodation block, chapel, Sergeants’ Mess and Officers’ Mess - all noteworthy. This enclosed complex is a key part of Plymouth’s military and civil history, but is likely to need new uses fairly soon.

Grade I listed Smeaton’s Tower stands nearby on Plymouth Hoe (where Drake played bowls). This is Smeaton’s pioneering triumph: the granite Eddystone Lighthouse (1756-9) re-erected here in the 1880ѕ. The building was recently restored with substantial HLF and EH funding. It can be examined from inside and out (fine view!) and is a good subject for discussion of conservation issues.

This Grade I Registered Park and Garden covers a large area and is jointly owned by Plymouth City Council and Cornwall County Council. It can be reached via a foot ferry from Stonehouse, Plymouth and the South West Coastal Path runs through the estate. The house itself is relatively new having been rebuilt since World War II, but the gardens contain a fascinating mix of protected grotto’s, follies, statues, garden buildings, chapels and defensive structures amongst some beautiful themed planting.

This tour will provide a fascinating insight into the family who laid out this historic park and it and the changes that it has gone through, whilst allowing glimpses of the city from a more unusual angle. There are now many plans for the parks future, addressing a wide range of issues including coastal erosion.