Born out of the sea 400 million years ago Drake’s Island has been a place of pilgrimage, a refuge, a fort, a prison, an observatory and an adventure centre. The fortifications have defended Plymouth from the time of the Spanish Armada to the World Wars. It has been the starting point for the voyages of discovery of some of the greatest of our explorers, Drake, Cook and Darwin. Still a place of mystery and rumour follow in the footsteps of Drake discovering Drake’s Island and the lives of those that lived there.
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THE MUTINY AGAINST THE PETTY TYRANNY OF MAJOR CUMMINGS RA
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A SLICE OF GARRISON LIFE – THE 1860’s AND THE HOAX ON THE HOE
During the construction of the casemates there was still a garrison on the Island, mainly provided by units of the...
THE PALMERSTON FORTS OR CASEMATES
The 2nd French Empire under Louis-Napoleon III had succeeded the 2nd French Republic in 1851. His foreign policy was...