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The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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The Royal Sailors' Rests were the inspiration of Miss Agnes Weston, of Bath, and hence became affectionately known as "Aggie Weston's". In addition to the main one in Fore Street, Devonport, there was a branch outside Albert Road Dockyard Gate and, after the Second World War, another at Barne Barton, Saint Budeaux.
The Royal Sailors' Rest, Devonport. Sailors' Rest, Fore Street, Devonport Early in 1873 she made the journey from Bath to Devonport to meet the sailors with whom she had been corresponding. While in Devonport she lodged with the family of Miss Sophia Gertrude Wintz and they became lifelong friends and partners. Later that year she started to work with the Royal Naval Temperance Society and visited the warships and spoke directly with the sailors. Miss Weston's visits were so popular that in 1874 a deputation from HMS "Dryad" asked her to open a temperance house close to the Royal Dockyard gate in Fore Street. [1] By March 1876 the two ladies had raised enough funds to purchase a large house in Fore Street, Devonport, which they fitted up at great expense. The freshly painted premises had a huge lamp over the main entrance, where one of the specially designed glass panels carried the words: 'Coffee, Comfort, and Company, for One Penny.' [2] Entering from Fore Street, one first came to the shop, or bar, where coffee, tea, dinners and suppers were served. It was, of course, a temperance institution so no alcoholic drinks were permitted. Beyond that was a very small smoking room and the wash-rooms. The front room on the first floor was the reading room, equipped with newspapers, periodicals and books. Apart from a bath-room the remainder of the floor was taken by offices for the clerk and two private rooms for Miss Weston, who intended to live there as much as possible. The second floor contained the scullery and kitchen, fitted with one of Bayne's "Gibraltar" cooking ranges. On the third floor was the recreation-room, furnished for chess, dominoes and bagatelle. [2] Attached to the house was a good sized hall, with a separate entrance off Fore Street, where for many months past Miss Weston had been holding religious services. A second house had been purchased or rented at the rear of the premises and it was intended that this should be converted into dormitories for 70 men. [2] The Devonport Sailors' Rest was opened in May 1876 and was soon followed by ones at Portsmouth, Portland and Sheerness, although the last two were short-lived. [3] At 7pm on the evening of Monday May 14th 1877 one hundred specially invited sailors, soldiers and marines gathered in the main hall for a substantial supper in celebration of the first anniversary of the opening of the Devonport Sailors' Rest. Miss Weston and Miss Wintz presided with Mr A C Uren, the business manager. The tables were arranged in horse-shoe fashion and decorated with flowers, ferns and fruit. Only non-intoxicating drinks were served. The supper was followed by toasts, of course: "Prosperity to the sailors' Rest" was proposed by Seaman Gunner J Carbis, of HMS Cambridge; "Prosperity to the Temperance Cause" was proposed by Sergeant Maker of HMS Indus; and in conclusion Mr Uren proposed "The Army, Navy and Royal Marines". It was announced that 127,000 servicemen had visited the Rest during its first year and 10,488 had spent a night there. Miss Weston also announced that the Rest was no longer in debt and described plans for a Seamen's and Marines' Club which for an annual subscription of 2s 6d would entitle a man to claim a room and bed no matter how full the Institute and refreshments at any hour. [3a] In October 1887 the Napier Inn, the Fountain Inn and the Dock Gates Inn, all in Fore Street, were all demolished to make way for the enlarged and extended Royal Sailors' Rest. Miss Weston paid £7,000 for the land and on Wednesday April 18th 1888 Vice-Admiral H D Grant CB laid the foundation stone of the new building. Miss Weston laid a stone of her own at the corner nearest the Dockyard wall. [4] On Monday February 17th 1890 the 'handsome pile of buildings' were opened. The frontage of the new extension to Fore Street covered 68 feet and that to Edinburgh Road, 80 feet. When the original building was included the total frontage was 105 feet in Fore Street and 130 feet in Edinburgh Road. The architect was Mr H J Snell, of Plymouth, and the contractors were Messrs Palk & Partridge, also of Plymouth. The plumbing and sanitary work was done by Mr W Rowe; the stone carving by Mr S Trevenen; the painting and decoration by Messrs Randle & Prowse; and the marble fittings were supplied by Messrs J & E Goad, all from Plymouth. [5] Built of red brick from Rowland's Castle, near Portsmouth, with dressings of Portland stone on the ground floor and of stone from Ham Hill in Somerset on the remainder, the principal feature of the building was the turret at the juncture of Fore Street and Edinburgh Road. The height from the ground to the top of the weather vane was almost 80 feet. At each storey of the tower there was a projecting oriel window and above the parapet this was continued as am octagonal turret, with an ogee-shaped roof covered with stamped, zinc tiles. At the top was a weather vane shaped to represent a Viking ship. [5] Down in the basement were two large kitchens, lined with white, glazed bricks to give a light, clean and cheerful appearance. From one of the rooms the bars and other parts of the building were supplied with hot water while another room was devoted to the apparatus for brewing coffee. In the basement of the older part of the building were eleven bathrooms, reached by as spiral staircase from the ground floor, and a large baggage storeroom. [5] On the ground floor was the large bar, 50 feet by 28 feet, split into two (for men and boys) by a dwarf oak screen. The men entered from Fore Street and the boys from the door opposite the Dockyard gate. The woodworking was of wainscot oak while the bar top was of Devonshire marble. Three large mirrors, each about 9 feet square, were placed at the back of the bar counter. Adjoining the bar was a refreshment room for private parties. In the sailor boys' room, which measured 38 by 37 feet, were facilities for reading and recreation. The men now had two reading rooms, the one in the old part of the building and a new one measuring 26 feet by 18 feet and lit by a large lantern. Also on the ground floor were a parcel office and a room filled with 140 iron lockers supplied by Messrs Mordan, of London. [5] A new entrance to the main hall had been provided from Edinburgh Road. Although the hall was partly in the old building, it had been entirely renovated and improved by removing the old ceiling and thus making the room 12 feet higher. The roof timbers had been cased up and decorated and four lantern lights constructed in the roof. The staff apartments were also on the ground floor with two staircases leading to the dormitories above. [5] The first floor was basically a large dormitory fitted out as 25 cabins, divided by varnished red deal walls of about 7 feet in height and topped with strong wire netting. There were also ten bed-sitting rooms for warrant officers. In the turreted part of the floor was a writing room. [5] Each of the second and third floors had two large dormitories, each of around 60 feet by 28 feet, providing a number of cabins and an open sleeping area. Some of the cabins had been financed by gifts and had memorial plaques affixed to them. In total there was sleeping accommodation for about 300 men. [5] Over the roof of the hall a bridge had been constricted to linkethe dormitories of the old building with the second floor of the new one, both for the benefit of staff and as a useful emergency exit in the event of a fire. [5] Miss Weston and her colleague, Miss Wintz, held an "At Home" on the afternoon of Monday February 17th 1890 during which a large number of ladies and gentlemen inspected the new premises. The visitors noted especially the large number of 'appropriate mottoes' dotted around: 'Pots of beer cost many a tear'; 'The heads of the steady are always found ready'; 'East or West, Home is Best'; 'The more you think, the less you'll drink'; 'The Cross of Christ is the key to Paradise' and 'Imitate the best, not the worst'. [6] The public opening of the new coffee bar took place on Tuesday February 18th 1890 and was attended by a large number of naval and military gentlemen. There as no official ceremony to mark the event. In the evening about 100 seamen and marines sat down to the first of a series of "house warming teas", after which a meeting was held, which was attended by more than 200 seamen, marines and friends of the Rest. With Miss Weston in the chair, singing at once commenced, with a Mrs Moore rendering "In the chimney corner" and Mr Pope, of the Royal Navy, singing "Somebody always at home" along with some whistling solos. The Gordon Institute Band accompanied the singing and provided their own entertainment. [6a] During her speech Miss Weston revealed more about the history of the organisation. Her first property in Fore Street had previously been a grocer's shop with an adjoining potato garden. Her plan was much derided and one gentleman even suggested she should 'roll in a barrel of beer or two and to sell a little rum' otherwise 'the bluejackets will never come near it'. But the Rest was a success and she was able to purchase the adjoining three public houses in order top extend the premises. When it opened, the men had to walk through the potato garden to get into the building. Some 42,000 men had slept at the Sailors' Rest during 1889 and there was only one restriction - no fighting or disorder. Even the notorious "drunken sailor" was welcome so long as 'he would quietly go to bed'. [6a] Royal Sailors' Rest Public recognition for Miss Weston's work came in 1892 when Her Majesty Queen Victoria endowed a cabin at Devonport and gave her Royal Warrant for the prefix "Royal" to be added to the name. [7] A further extension was formally opened on Sunday May 7th 1916, making the frontage now 1,905 feet in length [8]. At the thanksgiving service held in the main hall to celebrate that event, a message was read from HM King George V at Windsor Castle: 'The King is glad to hear that the new block of the Royal Sailors' Rest will be opened on Sunday. His Majesty is sure that the extension many who arrive at or depart from his great naval port. The King wishes you every success in your undertaking'. The new extension was to be known as the Royal Block and the King and Queen had each presented a cabin, following in the tradition of Queen Victoria, King Edward VII, and Queen Alexandra. [8a] Sadly, "Aggie" Weston died at Devonport on October 23rd 1918. Three days later she was buried at Weston Mill Cemetery with full Naval honours. [9] The Royal Sailors' Rest was destroyed during the Devonport Blitz of April 1941. [10] Royal Sailors' Rest, Stoke Terrace, Albert Road, Devonport Between the loss of the original premises in Fore Street and the opening of the new one the Royal Sailors' Rest occupied the former Royal British Female Orphan Asylum in Stoke Terrace, at the top of Albert Road, Devonport. [11] Royal Sailors' Rest, Albert Road, Devonport The foundation stone of a new five-storey building in Albert Road, nearer to the former Albert Road Gate, was laid by the Commander-in-Chief, Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Onslow on Friday May 23rd 1958. The Anglican Bishop of Plymouth, Doctor Norman H Clarke, consecrated it. Music was provided by the Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines. [12] Among those also present were the Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Alderman J G Wingett; Mrs G E Currey, who had been the trustee in charge for the past 20 years, carrying the responsibility during the Second World War and the subsequent rebuilding; and Miss E M Carr, the lady superintendent. [12] Mr A C Luxton, of Messrs Fouracre & Luxton, of Plymouth, was the architect and the construction was carried out by Messrs Hill & Lang (Plymouth) Ltd. [12] The building was dedicated by the Reverend Clifford Davies, senior chaplain at the Royal Naval Barracks, on the evening of Friday December 18th 1959 and opened to members of all of the armed services the following day. [13] For 3s 6d a night, a serviceman could have a bed-sitting-room, with hot and cold running water, an electric shaver socket, a combined wardrobe and dressing-table, and a bed with a foam mattress. He could spend his entire shore leave here if he wished to. For shorter stays he could have a cabin, exactly half the size of the bed-sitting-rooms, for 2s 6d per night. Breakfast cost two shillings. [14] There was no accommodation for women they could use all of the day facilities, like the restaurant, quiet room, television room and games rooms. [14] Vice-Admiral Sir St John R J Tyrwhitt, Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel, officially opened the Royal Sailors' Rest on Friday May 27th 1960, in the presence of the Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Alderman F J Stott, and the Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth, Admiral Sir Richard Onslow. [15] This building was closed at the end of June 2001 and during 2003 was redeveloped to provide accommodation for students. The Homeward Bound, Morice Town On the evening of Monday October 7th 1878 a branch establishment of the Devonport Sailors' Rest was opened in a former chemists' shop at the junction of Albert Road and William Street, just outside the Keyham or Albert Road Gate of the Royal Dockyard. [16] Known as "The Homeward Bound", it contained a bar area, where coffee, tea and cocoa could be obtained. This was decorated in white and gold and was furnished with six tables covered with oilcloth and enough chairs for twenty people. In the adjoining dining room were three long tables capable of seating forty people for cold meals. It was planned to introduce hot meals as soon as possible. Over the bar was a reading-room and over the dining-room was a recreation-room furnished with a bagatelle board. [16] The Rest was decorated by Mr Pilcher of Marlborough Street; carpeted by Messrs Pinsent & Company of Market Street; and furnished by Mr Goodman of Fore Street. Mr Knowlston, RN, was in charge. [16] Royal Sailors' Rest Hall, Saint Budeaux On Wednesday April 6th 1960 the foundation stone was laid of the Royal Sailors' Rest Hall in Poole Park Road, Barne Barton, Saint Budeaux. This was on what was at that time a Naval housing estate. Commodore I W T Beloe, Commodore of the Royal Naval Barracks, performed the ceremony, during which he was presented with the silver trowel. The stone came from quarries at Kitley, near Newton Ferrers, South Devon. [17] The Hall was designed by Mr V C L Saunders and constructed by Messrs Hill & Lang, of Plymouth. It could seat 200 people. [17] Sources (incomplete):
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