King Billy's Statue at Mutton Cove

The statue that stands beside the dockyard at Mutton Cove, known as King Billy, is of William IV who reigned between 1830 and 1837. The statue was originally a figurehead on the 120 gun warship, 'Royal William'. The ship was converted to steam in 1859 and the figurehead was replaced with a smaller one. The original figurehead was then placed at the southern end of the dockyard where it has remained a landmark for many years after. The replacement figurehead cost the Admiralty £35. It no longer exists because the ship it was on, later renamed Clarence, was destroyed by fire in 1899 while it was a training ship moored on the Mersey. In the 1990s, the figurehead at Mutton Cove was deteriorating fast so it was decided to make a fibreglass copy which now stands in place of the original. The original wooden figurehead has now been restored and stands along with other preserved figureheads at Black Yarn Stores at Devonport Dockyard.

Hostins of Atherton Place, Devonport

Here's a lovely old photo of Hostin's newsagent and general store at Atherton Place. From the newspaper hoardings, Plymouth Albion have been successful, the Polar expedition is in peril and there is 'an unbeatable forecast for all the big pools'. Those were the days when winning the Pools was equivalent to winning the lottery. There are adverts for Clubs Cigarettes, another for Woodbines and there's a boot and shoe repair service offered. An advert in the window advertises the Tivoli which is showing 'After Dark' and 'Humility'. The magazines on show include 'Wife and Home', 'Practical Wireless', 'Picture Show', 'World Radio', and 'Radio Times'. There seems to be a collection of postcards on display in the centre of the window.

Terry, who wrote to me earlier about the Saltash Passage mine, tells me:

'This photo features William Henry Hostin and his wife, Laura Wright Hoskin (nee Reed). The shop was at No 2 Atherton Place which is halfway up Charlotte Street, between St Leo's Place and Warren Street. It's still there but isn't a shop anymore. The shop window has gone and has been turned into a bay window.'

Terry included a photo of the shop as it appears today and I've featured it here.

Terry continues:

'Mr and Mrs Hostin were my grandparents and I was born in the room behind the shop and lived there for a short while. Next door was a post office when I was young. My gran used to give me sixpence on a Saturday and then whisk me next door to buy a savings stamp for my post office savings book. I only had it in my hands for 90 seconds! Sixpence was a lot then - those were the days!'

Things have certainly changed over the years.

Plymouth Guide 1961

Here's another ebay 99p bargain! This Plymouth guide dates from 1961 so that makes it as old as me!

Included within its pages are adverts for the Hoe Cafe, Moss Bros, Janet Joyce, Capps Jewellers, Wightman's Camera Shop and Pophams - now all long gone. If you were hungry back then, there was a Wimpy Bar at 94 Cornwall Street, the Magnet Restaurant at 34, the Tudor Restaurant at Ebrington Street and Goodbodys on the Royal Parade. Entertainment was either at the Hoe Summer Theatre or at one of the many

cinemas which included the ABC, the Drake, the Gaumont, the Odeon, The Plaza, the State, the Belgrave or the Palladium. Regular Saturday dances were held at the Guildhall, the Duke of Cornwall and the Continental Hotel.

Hedley Claxton hosted 'Gaytime' at the Hoe Summer Theatre which included talent contests, concert party competitions, military bands, choirs and 'sparkling entertainment'.

If you needed to hire a car, Rowland Trim could provide you with the latest Morris Oxford, Morris Minor, Ford Anglia or Ford Popular. The main garages seem to have been Esso but I think this was before the popular 'Put a Tiger in Your Tank' campaign.

There were many cafes including the Hoe Cafe, Humphreys Cafe at West Hoe and Chequers Cafeteria and Restaurant at Bretonside.

For clothes, there was J Modes, 'in a style you like' and Richfurs of Royal Parade. Well known shops included Dingles, Spooners, British Home Stores and the Co-op at Derry's Cross. Of course, there was also Ivor Dewdney's in Cornwall Street selling 'superior quality pasties and pies'.

There were pleasure boats to Kingsand, Cawsand and Bovisand. Other river trips went to Salcombe, Looe, Fowey, Dodman Point, Calstock,

 

Newton Ferrers and Noss Mayo.

The Hoe was packed at the time with many deckchairs, swimming and beauty pageants at the Lido, cafes, boat trips, entertainment, sailing and fishing.

It all sounds great apart from the fur coat shop on Royal Parade (they were mainly Nylon anyway!). Certainly much seems to have changed over the years.