Here's a photo of 'Newlands' which was built by W E Elliot in 1860 after he reclaimed 120 acres of mud flats on the River Tamar. At the beginning of the 1900s, the building was bought by the trustees of the Mount Edgcumbe training ship and used as a cottage hospital and sick bay. It was eventually purchased by the Ministry of Defence and marked the entrance of their Ernesettle depot until it was demolished in 1922.
A couple of days ago, I thought that I would take a walk down to the 'top secret' armaments depot at Saltash Passage (it's so secret that it's signposted 'armaments depot'!) to see if anything remained of Newlands. At first glance, it appeared that nothing was left so I just enjoyed the walk and took some photos in the Autumn light. As I walked further along the 
road however, I noticed several passing areas and the final one, unusually for a passing area, had a fireplace in it! I think that this must be all that remains of Newlands and probably today goes largely unnoticed. It's interesting to think of all the activity that must have taken place here when the Training Ship Mount Edgcumbe was moored close by. Nowadays, it's deadly quiet. I'm sure many people must work at the armaments depot but you certainly never see any of them and apart from the odd barge going up and down the river, it would be easy to imagine that the area has been abandoned.
road however, I noticed several passing areas and the final one, unusually for a passing area, had a fireplace in it! I think that this must be all that remains of Newlands and probably today goes largely unnoticed. It's interesting to think of all the activity that must have taken place here when the Training Ship Mount Edgcumbe was moored close by. Nowadays, it's deadly quiet. I'm sure many people must work at the armaments depot but you certainly never see any of them and apart from the odd barge going up and down the river, it would be easy to imagine that the area has been abandoned.
Excited to see the photo of Newlands as have just been reading the 1866 marriage settlement for W.E.Elliot's son William Robert's betrothal to Evaline Augusta nee Lucas (later Mrs. W.R.West) in which (to summarize)W.E.Elliot gives income from Newlands and its 250 acre estate to the couple.Captain W.Robert Elliot died a year
ReplyDeletelater…no idea how,aged only 27.Evaline was remarried after only one year later.
She did not pass away herself until the 1930's so am wondering exactly when Newlands was sold off.Maybe there is mention of this in the papers that I am sorting through.Shall keep eyes open for same.Thank you for this record and placing Newlands today if only by it's fireplace. A.P.Devon.