Animal lovers will enjoy the nearby Monkey Sanctuary, an active rescue centre which is home to 36 individuals. [114] In contrast, the Theatre Royal's production and education centre, TR2, which was built on wasteland at Cattedown, was a runner-up for the RIBA Stirling Prize for Architecture in 2003. [119] The Cremyll Ferry is a passenger ferry between Stonehouse and the Cornish hamlet of Cremyll, which is believed to have operated continuously since 1204. [167] The Devonport Leat was constructed to carry fresh drinking water to the expanding town of Devonport and its ever-growing dockyard. [92], Plymouth is home to the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom (MBA; founded 1884) which conducts research in all areas of the marine sciences. [3] The topography rises from sea level to a height, at Roborough, of about 509 feet (155m) above Ordnance Datum (AOD). [87] Its dental school was established in 2006, which also provides free dental care in an attempt to improve access to dental care in the South West. [207] Illustrator and creator of children's series Mr Benn and King Rollo, David McKee, was born and brought up in South Devon and trained at Plymouth College of Art. [200] He was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the world and was known by the Spanish as El Draco meaning "The Dragon" after he raided many of their ships. [52] Since May 2019 Plymouth has had a Labour majority Council. After the war, the city centre was completely rebuilt. [165], Since 1973 Plymouth has been supplied water by South West Water. [42], The first record of the existence of a settlement at Plymouth was in the Domesday Book in 1086 as Sudtone, Saxon for south farm, located at the present-day Barbican. The Royal Eye Infirmary is located at Derriford Hospital. [163] Plymouth Raiders play in the British Basketball League the top tier of British basketball. [107] Other substantial employers include the university with almost 3,000 staff,[84] the national retail chain The Range at their Estover headquarters, as well as the Plymouth Science Park employing 500 people in 50 companies. [58] Since 1967, the unitary authority of Plymouth has included the, once independent, towns of Plympton and Plymstock which lie along the east of the River Plym. It is governed locally by Plymouth City Council and is represented nationally by three MPs. Plymouth Leander is the most successful swimming club in Great Britain along with Plymouth Diving Club. Taking over office from her husband Waldorf Astor, Lady Astor was a vibrantly active campaigner for her resident constituents. [183], After the English Civil War the Royal Citadel was erected in 1666 towards the eastern section of Plymouth Hoe, to defend the port from naval attacks, suppress Plymothian Parliamentary leanings and to train the armed forces. [51] The total electorate for Plymouth's Parliamentary constituencies was 190,006 in April 2019. They carried water from Dartmoor to Plymouth. UPSU also known as the University of Plymouth Student Union is based underground near the library. [209], Notable athletes include swimmer Sharron Davies,[210] diver Tom Daley,[211] dancer Wayne Sleep,[212] and footballer Trevor Francis. [132] The city also includes five Baptist churches, over twenty Methodist chapels, and thirteen Roman Catholic churches. [54], Plymouth was granted the dignity of Lord Mayor by King George V in 1935. [59] In the Sound is Drake's Island which is seen from Plymouth Hoe, a flat public area on top of limestone cliffs.