Duke of Cornwall Hotel
Encyclopedia
The Duke of Cornwall Hotel is a hotel
in the city of Plymouth
, Devon
, England. Built in Victorian Gothic style, it opened in 1865 to cater for the increasing number of travellers who were coming to the region by rail and sea.
The hotel survived the World War II Plymouth Blitz
without damage, and was the venue for regular functions throughout the war, even though the family that ran it were members of the fascist party
and were removed from the city in 1944. In the 1970s and early 1980s it was threatened with closure but, helped by poet laureate John Betjeman
's praise for its architecture, it was saved by a major refurbishment. Today it is considered to be one of Plymouth's principal landmarks.
(now closed) and Millbay Docks
. The architect for the hotel was C. Forster Hayward, and the builder was "Honest John" Pethick of Messrs Call and Pethick. Construction started in 1863 and it opened in 1865. Owned by the Plymouth Hotel Company the Duke of Cornwall cost £40,000 to develop including the excavation work required to clear the site. Five different types of stone were used to create the building in Victorian Gothic style. Plymouth Millbay railway station
, built in 1849, was directly opposite the hotel.
took place and local people were aware of the city of Plymouth’s importance to the enemy. With the large HMNB Devonport
Naval base nearby, it was inevitable that this base would soon become a target and this proved to be the case.
Much of Plymouth was destroyed during the blitz, but the Duke of Cornwall Hotel remained untouched. Despite the bombing, dances took place in the Ballroom every Wednesday and Saturday nights. They proved to be a welcome break from the pressure and fear that had become part of everyone’s lives. American troops and local people alike attended these functions and wedding receptions were also held in the hotel for the couples who had first met on the dance floor. Guests were entertained by the likes of Anne Ziegler
and Webster Booth
and other artistes who were staying at the hotel whilst playing at the nearby Theatre in Union Street.
An extraordinary story lies in the intelligence records of the MI5 which relates to the running of the Duke of Cornwall Hotel in Plymouth, one of the port’s most prestigious hotels during the war. According to home office reports the Welsh family that ran the hotel during the war had strong ties to the fascist party and was suspected by MI5 of gathering military intelligence from naval personnel. In particular, the manager's daughter-in-law was accused of taking American servicemen to her bedroom where she would coax sensitive military information from them after 'entertaining' them. On Februaury 10th 1944 Mrs Welsh and her daughter-in-law Bebe were placed on the suspects list. In March she and her husband had a restriction order which prohibited their presence in an aliens protected area. They had been watched from at least 1939 but it was not until 1944 that they were forced to leave before the Allied invasion of France in the spring of 1944, MI5 recommended their detention.
The hotel was described by Sir John Betjeman as "one of the finest examples of Victorian gothic architecture he had ever seen", and in 1988 its future was secured. A refurbishment programme affecting almost every area of the building was completed. The ballroom was completely refurbished in 1994 and the old Spider’s Web bar converted to a new function suite – the Fleur de Lys suite. The ocean liner passengers have been replaced by those from the cross channel ferries that Brittany Ferries
have operated from Millbay
since 1973, and the nearby Plymouth Pavilions
attracts thousands of conference delegates and show audiences each year.
The hotel was used as a location for a Rosamunde Pilcher
TV movie by German company ZDF with director Dieter Kehler.
and various functions. It is within walking distance of shopping streets, Theatre Royal
, Plymouth University and Plymouth Pavilions
as well as popular historical sites including the Hoe
, Barbican
, Mayflower Steps and Plymouth Gin Distillery
.
Today the Duke of Cornwall remains one of Plymouth’s most famous landmarks. Its restaurant dining room has been described by Frommer's
as "one of the finest in the area", and describes the setting as "elegant". The hotel has three stars and one red rosette from the AA
.
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
in the city of Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, England. Built in Victorian Gothic style, it opened in 1865 to cater for the increasing number of travellers who were coming to the region by rail and sea.
The hotel survived the World War II Plymouth Blitz
Plymouth Blitz
The Plymouth Blitz was a series of bombing raids carried out by the Nazi German Luftwaffe on the English city of Plymouth in the Second World War. The bombings launched on numerous British cities were known as the Blitz....
without damage, and was the venue for regular functions throughout the war, even though the family that ran it were members of the fascist party
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
and were removed from the city in 1944. In the 1970s and early 1980s it was threatened with closure but, helped by poet laureate John Betjeman
John Betjeman
Sir John Betjeman, CBE was an English poet, writer and broadcaster who described himself in Who's Who as a "poet and hack".He was a founding member of the Victorian Society and a passionate defender of Victorian architecture...
's praise for its architecture, it was saved by a major refurbishment. Today it is considered to be one of Plymouth's principal landmarks.
History
The hotel was built as Plymouth's first luxury hotel to cater for the increasing number of travellers who came to the region by rail and sea, being close to both Plymouth Millbay railway stationPlymouth Millbay railway station
Plymouth Millbay railway station was the original railway terminus in Plymouth, Devon, England. It was used for passenger trains from 1849 to 1941.- History :...
(now closed) and Millbay Docks
Millbay
Millbay, also known as Millbay Docks, is an area of dockland in Plymouth, Devon, England. It lies south of Union Street, between West Hoe in the east and Stonehouse in the west.-Early history:Mill Bay was a natural inlet to the west of the Hoe...
. The architect for the hotel was C. Forster Hayward, and the builder was "Honest John" Pethick of Messrs Call and Pethick. Construction started in 1863 and it opened in 1865. Owned by the Plymouth Hotel Company the Duke of Cornwall cost £40,000 to develop including the excavation work required to clear the site. Five different types of stone were used to create the building in Victorian Gothic style. Plymouth Millbay railway station
Plymouth Millbay railway station
Plymouth Millbay railway station was the original railway terminus in Plymouth, Devon, England. It was used for passenger trains from 1849 to 1941.- History :...
, built in 1849, was directly opposite the hotel.
World War II
On 6 July 1940 the first air raid of the Plymouth BlitzPlymouth Blitz
The Plymouth Blitz was a series of bombing raids carried out by the Nazi German Luftwaffe on the English city of Plymouth in the Second World War. The bombings launched on numerous British cities were known as the Blitz....
took place and local people were aware of the city of Plymouth’s importance to the enemy. With the large HMNB Devonport
HMNB Devonport
Her Majesty's Naval Base Devonport , is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy . HMNB Devonport is located in Devonport, in the west of the city of Plymouth in Devon, England...
Naval base nearby, it was inevitable that this base would soon become a target and this proved to be the case.
Much of Plymouth was destroyed during the blitz, but the Duke of Cornwall Hotel remained untouched. Despite the bombing, dances took place in the Ballroom every Wednesday and Saturday nights. They proved to be a welcome break from the pressure and fear that had become part of everyone’s lives. American troops and local people alike attended these functions and wedding receptions were also held in the hotel for the couples who had first met on the dance floor. Guests were entertained by the likes of Anne Ziegler
Anne Ziegler
Anne Ziegler was an English singer, known for her light operatic duets with her husband Webster Booth. The pair were known as the "Sweethearts in Song" and were among the most famous and popular British musical acts of the 1940s.-Life and career:She was born Irené Frances Eastwood in the Sefton...
and Webster Booth
Webster Booth
Leslie Webster Booth , better known by his stage name, Webster Booth, was a British tenor. He is largely remembered today as the duettist partner of Anne Ziegler, but he was also one of the finest British tenors of his generation and was a distinguished oratorio soloist.He was a chorister at...
and other artistes who were staying at the hotel whilst playing at the nearby Theatre in Union Street.
An extraordinary story lies in the intelligence records of the MI5 which relates to the running of the Duke of Cornwall Hotel in Plymouth, one of the port’s most prestigious hotels during the war. According to home office reports the Welsh family that ran the hotel during the war had strong ties to the fascist party and was suspected by MI5 of gathering military intelligence from naval personnel. In particular, the manager's daughter-in-law was accused of taking American servicemen to her bedroom where she would coax sensitive military information from them after 'entertaining' them. On Februaury 10th 1944 Mrs Welsh and her daughter-in-law Bebe were placed on the suspects list. In March she and her husband had a restriction order which prohibited their presence in an aliens protected area. They had been watched from at least 1939 but it was not until 1944 that they were forced to leave before the Allied invasion of France in the spring of 1944, MI5 recommended their detention.
Threat of closure and refurbishment
The building was listed as Grade II in 1975, despite which it faced threats of closure in 1977. A local newspaper article read: "Plymouth’s 114 year old Duke of Cornwall Hotel which kept the tourism flag flying in Queen Victoria’s days and defied the wrath of Hitler’s bombs, is in danger of being pulled down". This was due to the lack of car parking space: the terraced gardens gave way to a new car park in 1988. In 1987 another article reported "Plymouth’s last grand Victorian Hotel is up for sale".The hotel was described by Sir John Betjeman as "one of the finest examples of Victorian gothic architecture he had ever seen", and in 1988 its future was secured. A refurbishment programme affecting almost every area of the building was completed. The ballroom was completely refurbished in 1994 and the old Spider’s Web bar converted to a new function suite – the Fleur de Lys suite. The ocean liner passengers have been replaced by those from the cross channel ferries that Brittany Ferries
Brittany Ferries
Brittany Ferries is a French ferry company that runs ships between France, the UK, Ireland and Spain.-1970s and 1980s:Following the provision of the deep-water port at Roscoff, the company commenced in January 1973 at the instigation of Alexis Gourvennec, when existing ferry companies showed...
have operated from Millbay
Millbay
Millbay, also known as Millbay Docks, is an area of dockland in Plymouth, Devon, England. It lies south of Union Street, between West Hoe in the east and Stonehouse in the west.-Early history:Mill Bay was a natural inlet to the west of the Hoe...
since 1973, and the nearby Plymouth Pavilions
Plymouth Pavilions
Plymouth Pavilions is an entertainment and sports complex in Plymouth, Devon, England. It has a Fun Pool, Ice Rink, Live Cafe and arena. The arena is used for corporate hire and as an entertainment venue....
attracts thousands of conference delegates and show audiences each year.
The hotel was used as a location for a Rosamunde Pilcher
Rosamunde Pilcher
Rosamunde Pilcher OBE is a British author of romance novels and mainstream women's fiction. Early in her career she was also published under the pen name Jane Fraser. Pilcher retired from writing in 2000.-Early years:...
TV movie by German company ZDF with director Dieter Kehler.
Facilities and accreditations
The Duke of Cornwall has 72 rooms and suites including the Tower Room that gives a 270 degree view of the city, coast and countryside. The hotel is regularly used as a venue for weddings, conferencesAcademic conference
An academic conference or symposium is a conference for researchers to present and discuss their work. Together with academic or scientific journals, conferences provide an important channel for exchange of information between researchers.-Overview:Conferences are usually composed of various...
and various functions. It is within walking distance of shopping streets, Theatre Royal
Theatre Royal, Plymouth
The Theatre Royal in Plymouth, Devon, England is "the largest and best attended regional producing theatre in the UK and the leading promoter of theatre in the south west", according to Arts Council England...
, Plymouth University and Plymouth Pavilions
Plymouth Pavilions
Plymouth Pavilions is an entertainment and sports complex in Plymouth, Devon, England. It has a Fun Pool, Ice Rink, Live Cafe and arena. The arena is used for corporate hire and as an entertainment venue....
as well as popular historical sites including the Hoe
Plymouth Hoe
Plymouth Hoe, referred to locally as the Hoe, is a large south facing open public space in the English coastal city of Plymouth. The Hoe is adjacent to and above the low limestone cliffs that form the seafront and it commands views of Plymouth Sound, Drake's Island, and across the Hamoaze to Mount...
, Barbican
Barbican, Plymouth
The Barbican is the name now given to the western and northern sides of the old harbour area of Plymouth, Devon, England. It was one of the few parts of the city to escape most of the destruction of The Blitz during the Second World War...
, Mayflower Steps and Plymouth Gin Distillery
Plymouth Gin Distillery
The Plymouth Gin Distillery in The Barbican, Plymouth, England has been in operation since 1793 and used to be a significant manufacturer of gin in the UK. Also known as the Black Friars Distillery, it is the only gin distillery in the city....
.
Today the Duke of Cornwall remains one of Plymouth’s most famous landmarks. Its restaurant dining room has been described by Frommer's
Frommer's
Frommer's is a travel guidebook series and one of the bestselling travel guides in America. The series began in 1957 with the publication of Arthur Frommer's book, Europe on $5 a Day. Frommer's has expanded to include over 350 guidebooks across 14 series, as well as other media including the award...
as "one of the finest in the area", and describes the setting as "elegant". The hotel has three stars and one red rosette from the AA
The Automobile Association
The Automobile Association , a British motoring association founded in 1905 was demutualised in 1999 to become a private limited company which currently provides car insurance, driving lessons, breakdown cover, loans and motoring advice, and other services...
.