Whilst I was flicking around the tv channels the other day I came across a tv show on BBC 2 called Coast.. (click the link to explain it all) and whilst looking at the website I also found a link to my great city and it featured a walk to dio around the Barbican and Hoe area if you are a tourist here. Its a walk that I have done many many times.. more times than I could ever possibly remember because its just the walk we do when we say “Shall we go on the Hoe for a walk”… Through that website I learnt something about my city that I never knew…

Before 1812, Plymouth Sound lay wide open to the surge of waves which began hundreds of miles away, travelling across the Atlantic and and down the English Channel before crashing against the rocks of the Hoe, causing terrible havoc and damage.

What happened on the night of January 26th 1796 was to change all that. The East Indian ‘Dutton’ with 400 soldiers and many women and children on board was smashed against the rocks under the Citadel.

Fortunately Captain Edward Pellew, of the Royal Navy ship HMS Indefatigable, was crossing the Hoe in his carriage and saw the ship struck broadside against the rocks. Crowds had gathered on the Hoe. They had managed to throw a rope from the shore, but no-one would dare attempt to board the wreck. Pellew managed to get on board and take charge of the rescue operation, quelling the panic by threatening to run a sword through anyone who disobeyed his orders.

There were only 15 casualties, but to ensure that such an incident could never happen again, the great engineering feat that is Plymouth Breakwater was begun.

There were only 15 casualties, but to ensure that such an incident could never happen again, the great engineering feat that is Plymouth Breakwater was begun.

Before 1812, Plymouth Sound lay wide open to the surge of waves which began hundreds of miles away, travelling across the Atlantic and and down the English Channel before crashing against the rocks of the Hoe, causing terrible havoc and damage.

What happened on the night of January 26th 1796 was to change all that. The East Indian ‘Dutton’ with 400 soldiers and many women and children on board was smashed against the rocks under the Citadel.

Fortunately Captain Edward Pellew, of the Royal Navy ship HMS Indefatigable, was crossing the Hoe in his carriage and saw the ship struck broadside against the rocks. Crowds had gathered on the Hoe. They had managed to throw a rope from the shore, but no-one would dare attempt to board the wreck. Pellew managed to get on board and take charge of the rescue operation, quelling the panic by threatening to run a sword through anyone who disobeyed his orders.

Now I’ve been to Duttons cafe tonnes of times… I know the people who own it. Isn’t it odd that I feel somehow ashamed that I never knew the significance of Plymouth Breakwater and why it was built. I mean.. I knew it was built to protect the Sound from storms bad weather.. but I never knew that so many people lost their lives before it was built.



I took pictures at Duttons only a few weeks ago when HB and the little girl from next door played on the canons. I’m glad I know now what I didn’t know before…

Its odd how we don’t pay attention to the things around us… I never take for granted the view that I see of Plymouth Hoe… it makes me gasp in admiration sometimes…

In the winter it can be as calm as a millpond one day and the following day as rough as the Southern Ocean (ok.. slight exageration but you get my drift).


The day I took these pictures was a fun day… we only intended going into the city for some shopping for an hour but the weather was so beautiful we went up on the Hoe afterwards. My daughter had an incredible amount of fun that day. She forgot.. for about 4 hours.. that she was almost 14 years old.. and she was reminded by a 9 year old how much fun it can be to just be a little girl.

Cartwheels… roly poly’s and tumbling down slopes… they had sooooooo much fun.