Ship Launch

An unusual but by no means unique pub name, the Ship Launch stood at Crimhill (Cremyll) Point, or Devil’s Point as it was also known, Stonehouse. It appears to have been a victim of the redevelopment of the area when acres of land were won from the sea, following a certain amount of quarrying on the Stonehouse peninsula, in order to consruct what would become the Royal William Victualling Yard in the 1820s.

There were, at that time, plenty of shipbuilders in and around the Three Towns: half a dozen or so in Sutton Pool, the same number in the Cattewater and the Hamoaze and a few at Richmond Walk and in Stonehouse itself – notably the Hocking Brothers. Therefore, although some of the ships concerned may not have been huge, there would certainly have been regular opportunities to witness a ship launch. It was after all the era of Britannia ruling the waves – there was even a popular song of the same name – Ship Launch!

Licensees

1812 - George Lang
1823 - Thomas Couch