Plymouth, Devon: Difference between revisions
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The name is obviously derived from the river Plym, which in turn is thought to be probably a back-formation from Plympton, "the estate/village of the plum tree", now a suburb of Plymouth. The original name of the settlement was Sutton, "south farm".<ref>Gover, J E B, Mawer, A, Stenton, F M. The Place-Names of Devon. Cambridge University Press. 1931. (English Place-Name Society, vols VIII & IX</ref> Plympton was indeed more important than Sutton up to the 13th century. It had a market in 1194 and became a [[borough]] in 1242 and a [[stannary town]] in 1328. | The name is obviously derived from the river Plym, which in turn is thought to be probably a back-formation from Plympton, "the estate/village of the plum tree", now a suburb of Plymouth. The original name of the settlement was Sutton, "south farm".<ref>Gover, J E B, Mawer, A, Stenton, F M. The Place-Names of Devon. Cambridge University Press. 1931. (English Place-Name Society, vols VIII & IX</ref> Plympton was indeed more important than Sutton up to the 13th century. It had a market in 1194 and became a [[borough]] in 1242 and a [[stannary town]] in 1328. | ||
The first recorded use of the name Plymouth was in 1211. It began to be prominent in Edward I's continental wars, and by the late 14th century trade was thriving. Following French raids, work started on fortifications early in the 15th century and proceeded slowly, funded by a combination of means. In 1439 the town and port of Sutton finally became a borough under the name of Plymouth. It was primarily a trading port, with some piracy. | The first recorded use of the name Plymouth was in 1211. It began to be prominent in Edward I's continental wars, and by the late 14th century trade was thriving. Following French raids, work started on fortifications early in the 15th century and proceeded slowly, funded by a combination of means. In 1439 the combined town and port of Sutton finally became a borough under the name of Plymouth. It was primarily a trading port, with some piracy. The prosperity from trading fluctuated, but eventually began to grow with the discovery of America. During the Reformation, Plymouth tended to side with the reformists. When the Cornish rose against the [[protestant]] changes being imposed in the reign of [[Edward VI]], the town held out against them, but was eventually taken, with some destruction.<ref>Gill, C. Plymouth: A New History: Ice Age to the Elizabethans. David & Charles. 1966</ref> Under [[Elizabeth I]], from 1562 the affairs of Plymouth and its leading traders became bound up with England's developing conflict with [[Spain]] and with the [[Huguenot]] rising and civil war in [[France]].<ref>Black, J B. The Reign of Elizabeth 1558 - 1603. Oxford at the Clarendon Press. 2nd ed 1959. pp123 - 146</ref> | ||
The | The protestant ethos which it acquired developed into a radical tradition and the town was an isolated parliamentary outpost in the [[English Civil War]], holding out with difficulty. | ||
== Administration == | == Administration == | ||
Revision as of 10:51, 24 February 2013
Plymouth is a city on the southern coast of Devon in south-west England, with a population of about 260,000, making it the largest centre of population in Devon and Cornwall. Most of it lies between the estuaries of the rivers Tamar (which constitutes the boundary with Cornwall) and Plym. These meet in Plymouth Sound, which is a good natural harbour. There are several docks: the naval dockyard at Devonport on the Tamar; a ferryport and small commercial dock at Millbay; a fishing and yachting harbour at Sutton Harbour (by the original town); and a tanker terminal on the Plym. In addition there are various marinas.
History
There are known to have been prehistoric and possibly Roman settlements in the area.
The name is obviously derived from the river Plym, which in turn is thought to be probably a back-formation from Plympton, "the estate/village of the plum tree", now a suburb of Plymouth. The original name of the settlement was Sutton, "south farm".[1] Plympton was indeed more important than Sutton up to the 13th century. It had a market in 1194 and became a borough in 1242 and a stannary town in 1328.
The first recorded use of the name Plymouth was in 1211. It began to be prominent in Edward I's continental wars, and by the late 14th century trade was thriving. Following French raids, work started on fortifications early in the 15th century and proceeded slowly, funded by a combination of means. In 1439 the combined town and port of Sutton finally became a borough under the name of Plymouth. It was primarily a trading port, with some piracy. The prosperity from trading fluctuated, but eventually began to grow with the discovery of America. During the Reformation, Plymouth tended to side with the reformists. When the Cornish rose against the protestant changes being imposed in the reign of Edward VI, the town held out against them, but was eventually taken, with some destruction.[2] Under Elizabeth I, from 1562 the affairs of Plymouth and its leading traders became bound up with England's developing conflict with Spain and with the Huguenot rising and civil war in France.[3]
The protestant ethos which it acquired developed into a radical tradition and the town was an isolated parliamentary outpost in the English Civil War, holding out with difficulty.
Administration
The city is a unitary authority. Politically, it is marginal, with control swinging between Conservative and Labour.
- ↑ Gover, J E B, Mawer, A, Stenton, F M. The Place-Names of Devon. Cambridge University Press. 1931. (English Place-Name Society, vols VIII & IX
- ↑ Gill, C. Plymouth: A New History: Ice Age to the Elizabethans. David & Charles. 1966
- ↑ Black, J B. The Reign of Elizabeth 1558 - 1603. Oxford at the Clarendon Press. 2nd ed 1959. pp123 - 146