Marine & Military
Since the end of the Ice Age, man has fought over South West England - first to survive and, over time, to defend their land from invaders. First, the Celts. Next, the Romans. Then the Saxons, but they were no match for the Normans. After William the Conqueror's victory in 1066, South West England was carved up in a series of strongholds, monasteries and baronial estates.
Over the last 1,000 years, the region has been rocked by conflicts. The War of the Roses, The Civil War, The Great War and the Second World War all left their mark. Even during times of peace, the threat of war made an impact. Henry VIII's coastal defences are testament to the fear of invasion.
The landscape is strewn with reminders. From the obvious - Dartmoor Prison, built to house prisoners from the Napoleonic Wars - to the often missed, memorials in every village, town and city naming those who gave their lives in the 1914 - 18 and 1939 - 45 wars.
| Place | Description |
| Poole / Portland | |
| RNLI Lifeboat College | |
| Bovington Tank Museum | The Tank Museum in Bovington Dorset houses the world's largest and finest collection of Armoured Fighting Vehicles from unique World War 1 tanks to the latest main battle tank of the British Army - Challenger. The Museum has a collection of almost 300 vehicles from over 26 countries. The folding canoes known as ‘cockles’ used by the cockleshell heroes, were made in Poole. Poole was the third largest embarkation point for D-Day with 81 landing craft leaving Poole Harbour for the Normandy shores, many being for US Coastguard. Poole was an important centre for the development of Combined Operations, USNAAB established here, plus US Coastguard No 1 Rescue Flotilla of sixty cutters. A US Coastguard ensign is laid up in St James’s Church. There is also a plaque on the quay given by men and women of the United States Coast Guard which commemorates these 60 cutters departing for the Normandy Invasion 6 June 1944, and expresses the appreciation of the kindness of the people of Poole to the crews. |
| Abbotsbury Swannery | The only colony of nesting mute swans open to the public in the world. Up to 1,000 swans on the site at any one time. |
| Hardy Monument | On a hill near Portesham with glorious views across the Dorset countryside to the sea, stands a monument, erected in 1844 to commemorate Vice Admiral Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy, Flag Captain of HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar. Most famously known as Nelson’s ‘Kiss me Hardy’ |
| Torquay | |
| Paignton Zoo | Visitors can cover thousands of miles in just a few hours and on foot, on a world-wide nature trail at Paignton Zoo. Scorching deserts, frozen poles, African Savannah and the rain forests of South America are all represented. Set in 75 spectacular acres it's an exciting opportunity to find out about conservation and the world's endangered species. |
| Living Coasts | Situated on the coast line with fabulous views of Torbay this unique costal zoo gives a fascinating insight into marine life. |
| Dartmouth | |
| Britannia Royal Naval College | High on a hill above the town of Dartmouth in Devon, south west England, Britannia Royal Naval College has been training Royal Naval officers on this site since 1905. In fact, naval officers' training in Dartmouth goes back to 1863, when the old wooden hull HMS BRITANNIA was first moored in the River Dart. The Royal Family trained here for naval service. The then young Princess Elizabeth first met Prince Philip here when she visited with her parents. He was training there. |
| Exeter | |
| General Sir Redvers Buller | Distinguished soldier who was awarded the Victoria Cross for the rescue of three fellow soldiers during the Zulu wars. A statue of him stands in Queen Street, Exeter and a Bust in Exeter Cathedral. |
| Plymouth | |
| Devonport Naval Base | Largest Naval dockyard in Europe. |
| Crownhill Fort | Crownhill Fort was designed by Capt.E.F. Du Cane as the principal, and largest, fort of Plymouth's North-Eastern Defences, designed to defend the Royal Dockyard at Devonport from an attack by the French from the north of the city. |
| Admirals House | Legend has it that Admiral Nelsons body was brought to the house after Trafalgar, his brandy soaked body was taken into the dining room to unsuccessfully remove the shot. His body was returned to the brandy barrel to continue its journey to London and a heroes welcome. |
| Kenneth Graham | Thought to have based 'The Wind in the Willows' on this area. Fowey Hall (Hotel) is supposedly the basis for Toad Hall. |
| Mount Edgcumbe House | For the first time in England a house was built to take advantage of the wonderful situation and views rather than as a defensive house built around a courtyard. Although the Banqueting Hall adjoining the House was damaged in Civil War. It was to see many changes to its structure over the years, but none more dramatic than in 1941, when the House was gutted by enemy action.1958 saw the beginning of reconstruction when the House was restored to its original 16th century proportions by the 6th Earl. |
| National Marine Aquarium | The National Marine Aquarium was the first aquarium in the UK to be set up solely for the purpose of education, conservation and research. It remains Britain's biggest and Europe's deepest aquarium. |
| Buckland Abbey | 700-year-old building with fine 16th-century great hall, associated with Elizabethan seafarers Drake and Grenville containing much memorabilia from their time. |
| Barbican | Pilgrim Fathers left England on board the Mayflower to settle in America early in the 17th century. |
| Sir Francis Drake | The Queens Pirate, Drake was born in Tavistock and lived in Buckland Abbey which now houses the red and blue Tudor banners which decorated the Golden Hind. He purchased the Manor of Yarcombe in 1581 and his descendants still live there today. His tactics for the defeat of the Spanish Armada are said to have been planned in an Exeter Coffee house. |
| Sir Walter Raleigh | Born in East Budleigh 1554, his main occupation was as a seafarer and explorer but he wasn't averse to the odd bit of piracy. |
| Sir Francis Chichester | Born in Devon, was the first man to sail single-handedly around the world in 1966 on his famous Gypsy Moth IV. He also flew solo from England to Sydney before becoming the first to fly East to West across the Tasman Sea alone. |
| Fowey | |
| Charlestown | Charlestown is the familiar TV location for Poldark and The Onedin Line. The village was built in 1801 for the import of coal and export of China Clay; it remains an unspoilt port and retains its Georgian character. Called after Charles Rashleigh who began the development of the little fishing village by creating the harbour and widening its streets to allow for the wagons, which carried the china clay to the harbour. Today the harbour provides a permanent berth for square-riggers. The Shipwreck and Heritage Centre, can be entered through tunnels which were used to convey the clay to the docks. |
| Falmouth | |
| The worlds 3rd largest natural deep harbour. Finishing point for Ellen MacArthurs Round World Voyage in 2005 and Chay Blythe sailed Suhaile back into Falmouth on his Round World Voyage. | |
| National Maritime Museum Cornwall |
With breathtaking views from the 29m tower, one of only three natural underwater viewing locations in the world, hands-on interactive, audio visual immersive experiences, talks, special exhibitions and the opportunity to get out onto the water and discover the marine life around our coastline, this new generation of Museum has something for everyone. |
| Orca Sea Faris | Experience the ultimate, exhilarating thrill, whilst you cruise along the South West Cornish Coastline. |
| Custom House Quay | For 150 yrs, Falmouth was the only place where the mail came in and out of the country - In The Packet Ships. If you were the captain of one of the ships you would land at Customs House Quay. For 150 yrs, Falmouth was 2nd only to London for knowing the news of the day. |
| Trebah Garden | On 1 June a regiment of 7,500 men of the 29 US Infantry Division with their tanks, guns and transport embarked from Trebah Beach in ten 150 foot flat-bottomed landing craft. For five miserable days they battled through enormous seas to the Isle of Wight and then on to the D-Day assault landing on Omaha Beach in Normandy, where they suffered grievous casualties. A memorial at the bottom of the garden commemorates the courage of these brave young American soldiers. |
| Ilfracombe | |
| Lundy Island |
A place of outstanding natural beauty, skies full of birds, pirate haunts, reflect on the Island’s tempestuous past with 137 shipwrecks. |
| Kathleen & May | One of the last three masted schooners to ply her trade in these waters Rescued from dereliction in 1998 and magnificently restored, walk the plank & experience life aboard on of the last tall ships. |
| Bath | |
| Admiral Nelson | Is believed to have first visited Bath in 1772. Gainsborough painted his portrait whilst he was living at #17 The Circus. In 1781, Nelson chose to return to Bath to convalesce after the ill-fated expedition to San Juan in the Caribbean, taking advantage of the therapy of the water and baths. He was granted "Freedom of the City" after the great naval victory of Cape St Vincent. Evidence of Nelson's associations with Bath include the house in Pierrepoint Street, Nelson Place and Nile Street, named after the great victory of the Nile in 1798. |
