Olympic torch route - Day 2 Plymouth

Plymouth, a seaport, municipal and parliamentary borough 9returning two members), situated on the Sound of the same name in the extreme S.W. of Devonshire, England. With Devonport and Stonehouse it forms "The Three Towns". The Sound, protected by the famous breakwater, affords anchorage for the whole navy of England. Mill Bay, where the Great Western Docks are placed, and Sutton Pool accommodate many mercantile ships, and are divided by the leafy promontory known as the Hoe, where stands Smeaton's reconstructed lighthouse and Boehm's statue of Drake. The Government Dockyard in Devonport with Keyham factory and the arsenal make up one of the most complete naval establishments in the world. The church of St Andrew, dating from 1430 and restored in 1874, is the only remnant of antiquity. There are but few local manufactures except sail-cloth, rope, biscuits, soap and gin;but a large foreign coasting trade is carried on, the exports being chiefly minerals, ores and marble. Plymouth is an important centre of traffic for goods and passengers. The names of the explorers Cockeram, Gilbert, Hawkins and Drake will for ever be associated with the place.

From Cassell's Encyclopedia; a Storehouse of General Information (undated, but apparently early 1900s)

War memorial at Plymouth Hoe

Plymouth was badly damaged by bombing during the Second World War and contains a number of war memorials to the fallen in both World Wars and other conflicts. The Poor Law Union and registration district contained several parishes in the diocese of Exeter. Digitised and indexed parish registers for Plymouth have recently been released on Findmypast.co.uk These and other records are held at the Plymouth and West Devon Record Office

There is a good deal of genealogical and historical information, and links to useful websites about Plymouth on its GENUKI page.  There are population statistics and maps of Plymouth on Vision of Britain, and historic photographs on the English Heritage Archives site.