PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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HOE TEA PAVILION A proposal to have a winter gardens and cafe on the Hoe was first discussed by the Town Council on November 22nd 1922. At the next Council meeting, on December 20th, it was stated that the cafe was to be erected at the east end of the Hoe, opposite the gardener's lodge on land owned by the War Department. [1] In January of the following year the location of the site was reconsidered and at a Council meeting on February 21st it was stated that it was now to be erected on an enclosed piece of land to the left of the look-out house and abutting on the Hoe Road. [2] Nothing seems to have happened to this proposal for it was not until June 10th 1925 that plans were finally approved for a refreshment pavilion near the bowling green and fountain. The detailed plans were amended the following month. [3] Tenders were invited for the erection of a Tea Pavilion on the Hoe on December 1st 1925 [4]. On January 20th 1926 it was announced that the tender from Mr S Landry in the sum of £2,612 had been accepted [5].
The Hoe Tea Pavilion in the shadow of Sir Francis Drake. The Tea Pavilion was opened by the Mayor of Plymouth, Alderman J J H Moses, in pouring rain on Saturday April 2nd 1927. It was designed by Mr S Laundry. The small n umber of people who had turned out to witness the event were afterwards treated to tea. [6] The cafe was operated by Messrs H Matthews & Sons Ltd and in the summer of 1927 was open from 10am until 10pm, except on Sundays [7]. It proved so popular that in May 1928 they asked the Council for permission to erect a marquee on the west side of the pavilion for the summer [8]. The Hoe Tea Pavilion was being run by Messrs C A & W Goodbody Ltd in July 1929. They paid the Council a rent of £250 per annum for three years from March 31st 1930. [9]
When their lease ran out a new 5-year one was granted to Messrs E Dingle at £430 per annum plus rates to run from April 1st 1933 [10]. The Pavilion was destroyed in the Second World War. On Monday July 21st 1941 the Lord Mayor opened a new Pavilion, a temporary marquee, which was to be run by the YMCA for the benefit of service personnel only. Mr W G Soper was in charge. [11] HOE FLORAL CAFE Following the destruction of the old Tea Pavilion, the need for catering facilities to serve visitors to the Hoe became urgent and in 1947 the decision was taken to erect a temporary building for this purpose. Of all the structures readily available at that time, a "Blister" hangar was seen as the most suitable and action was taken to acquire one from the Air Ministry. After protracted negotiations, the Council purchased five such hangars in situ on the Royal Air Force Aerodrome at Harrowbeer, Yelverton. They cost approximately £100 each. They were dismantled and re-erected in the new Council Works Depot at Prince Rock while one was placed on the site of the old Pavilion on the Hoe. [12]
Seven bays of the hangar were used in the Cafe, giving a covered area of approximately 20ft x 53ft. A concrete raft was laid over the site and the hangar erected thereon, no special foundations being required for the ribs, which were lightly loaded. The ends of the hangar as normally used by the Air Ministry were closed by curtains and it was therefore necessary to design and erect steel frame gables to present a reasonable façade. The elevation facing the sea was conditioned by the necessity of obtaining as much side lighting as possible and a large area of access from outside into the Cafe. The other end was treated differently to incorporate toilet facilities and kitchen and bowling pavilion access. [12] The flooring, partitioning and as much as possible of the gables were constructed with second-hand and salvaged material to economise in cost and use of new building material. Drainage and other services were already on site from the previous building. The total cost of the work was £4,000 of which £2,400 represented the cost of the building and £1,600, that of the equipment. [12] On July 3rd 1947 it was reported that 'Good progress is being made with the construction of the Hoe cafe' [13]. It had a platform and a musicians' gallery. [13] It was opened on Wednesday July 16th 1947 by the Lord Mayor, Mr W H Taylor. The chairman of the City's Parks and Recreation Committee and Deputy Lord Mayor, Mr W H J Priest, said: 'It's appearance has been criticised but I don't mind what it is called as long as it serves the public, and the public must be served'. He added that it was hoped to erect a pavilion at the western end of the Hoe for band concerts and that he would also like to see a concert hall and indoor swimming pool. [14] In the first ten days the takings were over £700. But also taken were -- 50 glasses, 25 knives, 30 ice plates, 24 tea spoons, 20 forks and 15 dessert spoons. [15] The Hoe Floral Cafe was closed when the Allied Lyons Group announced that they would not be renewing their catering rights at any of the venues in Plymouth when they expired at the end of March 1982 [16]. The cafe was demolished in May and June of 1982 by Messrs Plant Dismantlers, of Plymouth, at a cost of £1,500. It is believed that the frame was sold to a farmer for housing cattle and agricultural equipment [17]. THE MALLARD CAFE The Mallard Cafe, which took its name from the Mallard Buoy rather than from the species of bird, was situated where the Plymouth Dome is now, overlooking the Sound. It was opened on Tuesday April 13th 1965, when its first customers were Mrs Hazel Kerr and her family, from Ruislip, who were on holiday at Torquay. [18] The Mallard Cafe survived until about 1988 when it was demolished to make room for the Dome. Sadly, the cafe was then relegated to the rear of the building, with no view over the water. Sources:
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