Mary Newman's Cottage
Mary Newman's cottage is so called because it was said to be the home/birthplace of Sir Francis Drake's first wife although there is no direct evidence for this. Francis Drake married Mary Newman in 1569 at St Budeaux and a year later, Francis Drake is recorded as living in Plymouth (presumably with his wife). His cousin married a man from Saltash so it's also possible that there were other family connections with the cottage. Using the treasure, reward and investments from his circumnavigation, Drake purchased a large number of properties in the Plymouth area so it's also possible that the cottage could just have been part of his property empire but no evidence has so far been found to support this. The building has been dated to the 16th Century but could contain some earlier mediaeval elements.
On walks
- Saltash and the Lynher Valley (4.8 mile walk)