Visit to the Citadel ...

While Mandy and Clive were here, we went on a guided tour of the Citadel .... the gateway is very imposing. Originally it was entered via a drawbridge, but this was removed in 1888. In the middle above the doorway is a niche which was intended to hold the statue of Charles II but holds three cannon balls instead.

We were met by a slim, gentle-looking elderly lady who was to be our guide. However, she was more like a combination of a P.E. teacher and an Army sergeant - "This way everyone - KEEP UP NOW - stand over here - NOT there sir - and NO photographs unless I say so"! Needless to say, she knew her stuff, and was particuarly interested in the guns ... !!
The Citadel was built in the late 1660's during the time of Charles II, designed by Sir Bernard de Gomme. It stands on the site of the original Plymouth Fort which had been in existence at the behest of Francis Drake after the Spanish Armada. During the English Civil War, the local Plymothians had pledged their allegiance to Parliament but when guns were placed in the Citadel, as well as the ones facing the Sound, some were also placed to face the town as a reminder to the turncoat population of their misplaced sympathies! There is even one which is aimed at Elliot Terrace (see below) ....

Within the Citadel is the Garrison Church of St Katherine-upon-the-Hoe - unfortunately we were only allowed 5 minutes in there before we were herded up again. On one of the walls is a beautiful mural of angels either side of the window - this was apparently done by a soldier/artist whilst he was stationed at the Citadel during the First World War, but nobody got his name before he was sent straight to the Somme and sadly killed there, so will be forever anonymous.

I was trying to imagine my father there in the late 1940's, and how it would have been at that time (it was closed in the 1980's for re-decoration/renovation). It is certainly an imposing building, and dominates the east part of the Hoe. There were a lot of areas where we were not allowed (I think our guide would have had us shot!), but the tour certainly gave us an idea of how it looks from "behind the walls"!