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HOE BANDSTAND
One feature of
Plymouth Hoe that was not replaced after the Second
World War was the Bandstand. 
The Bandstand on Plymouth Hoe.
From a postcard. On Wednesday May 30th
1866 the Western Daily Mercury reported: 'We observe that a commencement
has been made in the erection of the (band) platform, a quantity of timber
being deposited near the proposed spot, which were appropriated as seats by
the nurses of children yesterday'. It is not yet clear if this was
referring to the bandstand which it is said was erected in 1880 on the site
where the bowling green now stands. This means that either the
bandstand was older than at first thought or that it had a predecessor.
[1] It is also unclear exactly when it was removed
to its more familiar site near Smeaton's Tower
is unclear. A large number of bands entertained the crowds here.
For example, during the summer of 1938:-
Sunday June 5th 1938, 7.45pm - Band of
His Majesty's Royal Marines, Plymouth Division, under Captain F J Ricketts, RM.
Monday June 6th 1938, 3 & 7.30pm -
Band of His Majesty's Royal Marines, Plymouth Division
Wednesday June 8th 1938, 7.30pm - Band of
His Majesty's Royal Marines, Plymouth Division
Sunday June 12th 1938, 7.45pm - Band of
His Majesty's Royal Marines, Plymouth Division
Wednesday June 15th 1938, 7.30pm - Band
of the 2nd Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment
Sunday June 19th 1938, 7.45pm - Band of
the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Sussex regiment
Wednesday June 22nd 1938, 7.30pm - Band
of the 2nd Battalion, the Gloucestershire Regiment
And for the remainder of the season at 3
and 7.45pm on Sundays and 3 and 7.30pm every weekday, weather permitting:-
Sunday June 26th - Saturday July 2nd 1938
- Band of the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers
Sunday July 3rd - Saturday July 9th 1938
- Band of the 2nd Battalion, The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)
Sunday July 10th - Saturday July 16th
1938 - Band of the 1st Battalion, The Prince of Wales's Volunteers
Sunday July 17th - Saturday July 23rd
1938 - Band of the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards
Sunday July 24th - Saturday July 30th
1938 -Band of 1st Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)
Sunday July 31st - Saturday August 6th
1938 - Band of 1st Battalion, The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
Sunday August 7th - Saturday August 13th
1938 - Band of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst
Sunday August 14th - Saturday August 20th
1938 - Band of His Majesty's Royal Marines, Plymouth Division
Sunday August 21st - Saturday August 27th
1938 - The Foden Motor Works Band
Sunday August 28th - Saturday September
3rd 1938 - Band of His Majesty's Royal Air Force College
Sunday September 4th - Saturday September
10th 1938 - Band of His Majesty's Royal Scots Greys
If the weather intervened, then the
concert would be held in the Guildhall and notices to that effect would be posted at The
Hoe, Saint Andrew's Cross, The
Guildhall, Derry's Clock and in Princess Square.
Sadly the Hoe Bandstand gave way to the
necessities of war. It was removed as scrap metal and turned into warplanes, bullets
or bombs.
Instead of replacing the bandstand, a
large marquee was erected on a different spot and was named the Hoe
Summer Theatre. This became the home of the innumerable band concerts that
followed the end of the Second World War.
Sources (incomplete):
[1] "The Band Platform on the
Hoe", Western Daily Mercury, Plymouth, May 30th 1866.
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