PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE The foundation stone of what was at that time known as the Armada Tercentenary Memorial was laid by the Right Worshipful the Mayor of Plymouth, Mr Henry John Waring on Thursday July 19th 1888. It was, apparently, quite a day. It was said that the event 'drew together the largest concourse of people, especially strangers, that had ever visited Plymouth in one day'. 27,000 railway tickets were checked in at Millbay Station alone but it was estimated that a good 50,000 visitors descended on the Town that day. Officers of the Army and Royal Navy were present along with all the members of the Corporation and the Mayors of nearby towns. By night-fall the food and drink available were 'well-nigh exhausted' and the staff at the Borough Arms Coffee Tavern found it almost impossible to cope with 'a scene of hopeless and indescribable confusion'. Besides the ceremony on the Hoe, there was a grand Historical Pageant in the Royal Citadel; a Band performance 'with Bowling Matches', also in the Citadel; a banquet in the Guildhall; an exhibition of Armada relics and on the following Sunday there was a special Armada Service in St Andrew's Church, at which the preacher was the Reverend W S Lach-Szyrma. RETURN TO The National Armada Memorial
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