The enclosure originally formed two courts, and though the interior buildings are in a very decayed state, the outer walls have been preserved to a great extent by judicious restoration. Thus Carnarvon Castle is a prominent feature in the general aspect of the town, and shares with the magnificent remains at Conway the honour of being one of the two finest castles in the kingdom.
The birth of Edward II., the first Prince of Wales, took place here.]
=How to get there.=--Train from Paddington. Great Western Railway. =Nearest Station.=--Plymouth (North Road Station). =Distance from London.=--246 miles. =Average Time.=--Varies between 5-1/4 to 6-1/4 hours.
1st 2nd 3rd =Fares.=--Single 37s. 4d. 23s. 4d. 18s. 8d. Return 65s. 4d. 40s. 10d. 37s. 4d.
=Accommodation Obtainable.=--"Royal Hotel," "Central Hotel," "Chubb's Hotel," "Grand Hotel," "The Lockyer Hotel," "Duke of Cornwall Hotel," "Mount Pleasant Hotel," "Great Western Hotel," "Westminster Hotel," etc. =Alternative Route.=--Train from Waterloo. L. and S.W. Railway.
Down by Sutton Pool is the portion of the quay known as the Barbican, famous as the spot from which the _Mayflower_ cast off her moorings and commenced her momentous voyage across the Atlantic. The place is marked by a stone inserted among the granite sets, bearing the inscription "_Mayflower_ 1620."
The Pilgrim Fathers had started from Delfshaven, in Holland, in July, and after coming to Southampton, started their voyage in the _Mayflower_ and _Speedwell_. The _Speedwell_, however, proved unseaworthy, and both ships were obliged to put into Dartmouth, where the _Speedwell_ underwent repairs. When they started again, however, it became evident that the _Speedwell_ would not be able to stand the long Atlantic voyage, so once more the Puritans put back to the shelter of a port--this time Plymouth--and there abandoned the _Speedwell_. On 6th September 1620 (old style) they finally started, having reduced their numbers to 101 persons--48 men, the rest women and children.
After sailing for sixty days they reached the coast of America, but it was a portion of the coast not covered by the charter of the Company, whose assistance they had sought; they thereupon declared their intention to "plant this colony for the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian Faith." The spot where they landed they named Plymouth Rock.