Thursday 1 July 2021

ST NICHOLAS ISLAND DEVON

 

Drake's Island lies in Plymouth Sound, just south of Millbay Docks, there was once a chapel on the Island that was originally dedicated to Saint Michael and the island was originally named as St Michael’s Island and that is how it first appears in the records when, it was transferred from the Valletort family to the Priory at Plympton in 1135.

The chapel was re-dedicated, to Saint Nicholas, who is the patron saint of sailors at a date unknown.

In 1549 the chapel was demolished in order to build Hoe fort the Island.

Then in 1583 Sir Francis Drake was made Governor of the Island at a time when ownership of the Island passed from Plymouth to the state.

After this the island ceased to be St Nicholas Island and has ever since been known as Drakes Island.

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