Plymouth in 1620 | 22.04.2021

A Zoom talk by Martin Read on Thursday 22nd April 2021 at 6pm.

What did Plymouth look like when the Mayflower and Speedwell put down their anchors in the Cattewater ahead of their epic voyage across the Atlantic? This illustrated talk will examine how the integration of documentary, archaeological and cartographic evidence can help to show what the settlement looked like at the time of their visit. After the passage of the Spanish Armada, it was realised that the town was weakly defended, and this resulted in the building of a fort on the Hoe (a predecessor to the Citadel) to protect the anchorage and gates and other defences around the town. Particular attention will be paid to the development of these defences, the waterfront, merchant houses, civic buildings like the Guildhall, and tidemills, as well as some trades, such as ropemaking.

Martin Read is a maritime archaeologist and lecturer in Plymouth University. He has worked for, amongst others, English Heritage, the Mary Rose Trust and York Archaeological Trust. His research interests include ropemaking, hulk recording and investigating wrecks such as the East Indiaman Dutton in Plymouth Sound. For over 10 years he has been the Government Licensee of the Tudor Protected Cattewater Wreck, researching this site with help from Historic England and Plymouth City Museum.

Tickets are £5 per device accessing the talk. 
To purchase a ticket please call us on 01548 830832 or email office@dra.uk.net. Please note that payments are non-refundable. 

Booking will close at 12 noon on Tuesday 25th May and the joining instructions will be issued to participants by email later that day. You will need to supply a valid phone number and email address for our records.

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