As the Spanish Armada approached Plymouth on the evening of 20 July 1588, the English fleet lay in wait off the Devon coast. The next morning, Lord Howard of Effingham, along with Sir Francis Drake – his game of bowls complete – led the fleet into a battle that would echo through history.
That first day of fighting was indecisive, but Drake, Howard, Hawkins, and many others would ensure the rise of England’s power on the world stage. A new era was dawning, and it was one in which Plymouth would play a vital role.
Navy town
Plymouth was to become the hub of Britain’s naval empire, a home for the fleet, and, as the city’s importance grew, an increasingly tempting target for the country’s enemies. As a result, more and more defences sprang up along the coast, and by the outbreak of the Second World War, Plymouth was one of the most heavily defended cities in the country.
Changing conclusions