Discovering Stonehouse | Royal William Victualling Yard
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| This Sunday afternoon walk was the most difficult to organise. To begin
with the original guide found he was unable to give his services. Another excellent guide
was found, but this meant delaying the start by an hour. Secondly, the numbers had to be
limited because of the nature of some of the buildings so booking was essential. In the event, an unexpected re-run of the programme in the Evening Herald meant that more people arrived than had booked. This was further compounded by the fact that the Herald gave the original starting time so some people had to wait for an hour before it could start. To read about the history of the Yard, why not try Brian Moseley's site? |
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< Some arrived an hour early |
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< Numbers had to be checked carefully before the tour could start |
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< The crowd awaits Margaret, our guide for the afternoon |
Nigel introduces Margaret, and she explains the issue over numbers. Fortunately everyone could stay > |
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The Victualling Yard turned live cattle into beef. What more appropriate symbol for the main gate?> |
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The Yard's bell, with black clouds behind > |
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< Some very early iron columns made in Ironbridge, Shropshire, for the shelter where the cattle waited for slaughter |
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< Inside the Slaughterhouse we saw the current state of preservation, and the original iron roof |
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< You can see more detail of the roof in this movie |
This close-up of the Slaughterhouse sign shows the finely carved granite > |
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Looking back at the main gates - which have now been closed behind us...> |
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And on the top of the gateway, the statue of "King Billy" - King William IV, topped off by a gull > |
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< Entering the Mills and Bakery. The door was rather narrow, and there were rather a lot of people |
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< The remains of some of the ovens |
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< Supported by some early ironwork, you can see the method used to join lengths of timber |
Outside again, walking around the main Basin, accessible at all states of the tide> |
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The Melville Block, formerly used for administration and storage, but with a fine room visible through this high window > |
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The roof of the Mills and Bakery, showing the different slates being trialed > |
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< Behind the Melville Block is the Melville Yard. If you watch this movie, mind you don't get dizzy as it's a 360 degree view |
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< Two "residences" were built for officers. This is entrance to the garden of Residence No. 1, built for the Yard Superintendent |
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< Inside the garden is an attractive small greenhouse... |
And a gazebo...> |
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...with views over the high Yard wall of Plymouth Sound > |
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Having walked up to the Gazebo, you need to walk down again > |
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< The rear of Residence No. 1 undergoing renovation before sale or letting |
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< And the tour is at an end. Nigel thanks Margaret for her hard work |
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< Meanwhile, outside the Yard, efforts continue to keep intruders out |