PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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What today is known as Chelson Meadow, the Civic Amenity rubbish tip, was until 1806 known as Schilleston or Chelson Creek, a branch of the Laira river.
An extract from Benjamin Donn's
map of Devon, 1765, Lord Boringdon, later the first Earl of Morley, had constructed an embankment 2,910 feet long and about 16 feet high and drained the 175 acres of land behind it. This achievement gained him the Gold Medal of the Society of Arts. The work was started in the spring of 1806 and finished in the autumn of 1817. It cost £9,000 but the reclaimed land was then said to be valued at £20,000, making it a very worthwhile investment by his Lordship. The Plymouth, Devonport and Cornwall Races were moved here from land at Crabtree in 1828, the course being 1½ miles long. Later in the century It was used by the early aeronauts, although the Races continued to be held here for two days in late August (1882) or early September (1891) each year until 1926. Previous to this work, the Earl had promoted the Plymouth Embankment Company which was empowered by the Lairy Embankment (Plymouth)] Act 1802 (42 Geo. 3 Ch. 32) to embank the Laira river on the Plymouth side.
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