The various ranges of workshops for the different classes of artificers, the rigging house, sail loft, the im mense ranges of storehouses, attract also the attention and curiosity of the stranger. One of the latter is con structed entirely of stone and iron. The floors are of Yorkshire slate, and the beams and supports of cast iron. The attention also that has been displayed in obtaining a maximum of strength, with a minimum of materials, is most perfectly exemplified in the iron employed in this building. The two rope houses are also constructed with the same attention to security. They are each 1200 feet in length. Cables are formed here for ships of 120 guns, of 100 fathoms in length, and 125 inches in cir cumference. The mast houses are a range of buildings of considerable extent ; and there are, at all times, a number of masts in a state of readiness for any emergen cy. Near these buildings are immense ponds for the re ception of timber, communicating with the sea by conve nient gates.
The blacksmith's shop is a spacious rectangular struc ture, 160 feet by 140. The operations performed in it are at once astonishing and terrific. Forty-eight forges throw forth at once deep and powerful volumes of fire and smoke. Immense masses of glowing iron shower my riads of sparks, as the dark and brawny workmen wield their ponderous sledges. The roaring of the bellows, and the incessant clanking of chains, always produce a powerful impression on a visitor. Masses of iron are sometimes required, which defy the unaided power of man, and a mass of metal, called a Hercules, of nearly 8 cwt., suspended over a pulley, descends in a perpendicu lar direction on the glowing mass, to shape it to the desir ed form.
The commissioner, and principal officers of the yard, reside in a handsome row of buildings, adorned with naval trophies. The number of artificers amounts to about 3000.
Near the dock yard is the gun wharf. It stands on a surface of nearly five acres. The armory is a large building, filled with the various implements of war. The intervening spaces between the different edifices are occupied by large piles of ordnance belonging to the ships in the harbour, and immense pyramidal heaps of cannon shot.
A well-supplied market occupies a convenient and cen tral situation in the town, and is plentifully supplied with the different necessaries of life. Fish is very abundant.
Many vessels are employed in the coasting and coal trades, and other ships trade with the Mediterranean, North America, Stc.
Excellent hot and cold baths are situated on a pleasant beach, below Richmond Walk, immediately opposite to Mount Edgecumbe.
A few years since, a respectable literary and philoso phical institution existed in the town ; but it has latterly gone to decay. From the unquestionable utility of such institutions, and the influence they exercise on society, it is hoped that it will again revive, with increased useful ness.
Plymouth Dock, as has been already remarked, is bound ed on one side by the sea, and on the other by an extensive line of fortifications. This has given birth to the adjacent village of Stoke Dameral, now containing a very conside rable population.
A little to the south is the military hospital, a spacious and extensive structure, consisting of four distinct build ings of marble, with a noble piazza of forty-one arches, supporting a terrace, and on which convalescents enjoy the beneficial effects of gentle exercise in the open air, without the fatigue of descending and ascending numerous stairs.
Another village, which has grown out of the overflow ing population of Plymouth Dock, called Morice Town, is situated to the north of the gun wharf. The great London road, which terminates at this place, recommences at the opposite shore of Tor Point.
Two dissenting chapels have been lately built ; but there is no place of worship belonging to the establish ment nearer than the parish church of Stoke Dameral.
At a short distance from Morice Town is the powder magazine, for the supply of the government establishments at this port. It is completely insulated from all other buildings, and protected by numerous conductors from the effects of lightning.
Between the towns of Plymouth and Plymouth Dock is the pleasant little town of Stonehouse. Its streets are straight and commodious, and the buildings neat and hand some. There is one chapel devoted to the established religion, one Independent Calvinist, one Methodist, and one Baptist meeting. There is also a Roman Catholic chapel, which is the only place dedicated to the Catholic worship in the neighbourhood.
In this little town there are several charitable institu tions, which do much credit to the inhabitants. Of these may be mentioned the public school for poor boys and girls, the Lancasterian schools, a Sunday school open to children of all denominations, the adult school, and the Benevolent Society, for the sick and infirm poor.
The principal public establishments at this place, are the Royal Naval Hospital, and the Royal Marine Barracks. The former of these stands on a pleasant ascent, and con tains an area of about twenty-four acres, thirteen of which are occupied by a beautiful lawn, forming a delightful place of exercise for convalescents. The hospital con sists of ten buildings, surrounding an extensive quadrangle, and is capable of accommodating twelve hundred sick. Every branch of the establishment is conducted in the most perfect way ; and, when visited by the immortal Howard, called forth his warm admiration. From January, 1800, to the same month in 1815, no less than 48,452 seamen and marines were admitted into the hospital ; by far the majority of whom returned to the king's service as effective men.
The Royal Marine Barracks are regularly and hand somely built, and contain accommodations for nearly a thousand men. Near these are the Long Room Barracks, capable of holding nine hundred men.
Stonehouse will most probably increase in a rapid man ner, if the intended removal of the victualling office from Plymouth should take place.
The following is an abstract of the population returns of Stoke Dameral and Stonehousc for 1821.
Inhabited houses, 3864 Families occupying them, 9315 Houses building, 31 Ilouscs uninhabited, 210 Fami.ies employed in agriculture, . 142 Families employed in trade and manufactures, 38:34 Other families, 5339 Males, 17,188 Females, . . . 22.433 Total population, . 39,621