Memorial Service, Plymouth Hoe 1932

This latest old newspaper cutting also comes from the Western Morning News and Daily Gazette of Monday November 7th, 1932. It shows a remembrance service on Plymouth Hoe. The caption reads: 'Huge crowds gathered at the Naval Memorial on Plymouth Hoe yesterday for the annual service. Navy, Army, Marine, Air Force and Territorial forces, with representatives of the British Legion,  St John Ambulance, Red Cross Society and other organisations were present.'

Aero Club 1932

Here's an interesting old newspaper cutting from the Western Morning News and Daily Gazette of Monday, November 7th, 1932. The caption reads: 'Plymouth Aero Club held their first instructional flight at Roborough yesterday. Our picture shows Mr Parkhouse, of the Teignmouth Aerodrome, explaining the working of the engine.'

Corporation Cafe on Plymouth Hoe

This latest rare photo comes from the Western Morning News of 15th July 1947 and shows the new corporation cafe on Plymouth Hoe.
The caption reads: 'Plymouth Corporation's new floral cafe, housed in a blister hangar by the bowling green on the Hoe, is to be opened tomorrow by the Lord Mayor. Accommodating about 200, it will run along cafeteria lines.'
I'm sure there are many Plymothians, like me, who have very fond memories of a day on the Hoe with their family and a cup of tea in this unusual cafe.

Saltash Passage in 1878

Here's a rare photo of Saltash Passage taken in 1878 showing the river and the few houses that were built in the area at the time. The land shown is now all built on and forms Little Ash Gardens and the area to the right including parts of Wolseley Road and Little Ash Road. It's certainly a scarce photo and won't have been seen on the internet before.

Venus at the Mount Edgcumbe Estate

I love visiting the Mount Edgcumbe Estate so was sorry to hear that the statue of Venus, near to the Orangery had been smashed up and destroyed. I hope it can be repaired.
The cutting, shown here, dates from the Western Morning News of 28th July 1921 and, perhaps, shows one of the first times that the Orangery and the Italian Gardens were open to the public.

It reads:
'MOUNT EDGCUMBE GARDENS.
The willingness of the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe to assist philanthropic effort was again illustrated yesterday, when he opened the beautiful orangery and Italian gardens at Mount Edgcumbe on payment of a small fee, to be devoted to the maintenance of the children's ward at the Royal Albert Hospital. Many persons took advantage of this concession, and, besides spending happy hours amid charming surroundings, had the satisfaction of knowing they were assisting a worthy object.'

Greyhound Racing

Following on from Chris Robinson's article in the Herald last week about greyhound racing in Plymouth, here's another rare photo from the newspaper archives. This one is from the Western Morning News of 15th February 1937 and the caption reads:
'Green Grass (left), the winner, with Peter's Pony and Ricketty Rosery, which finished second and third respectively in the second race at the meeting on Saturday at Plymouth Stadium.'

Plymouth Hoe foreshore improvements 1937

Here's another rare old photo from the Western Morning News and Daily Gazette of Friday 19th February, 1937. The caption reads:

'Foreshore Improvements.

Work in now proceeding on the improvement work at Tinside, Plymouth, and additional sun-bathing terraces and cubicles are in course of construction.'
The picture appears to show the area known as the (men only) 'Lion's Den'.
Today, it's back to its original condition!