Hoe Giants return to Citadel hill

Gog and Magog are being brought back to the slopes of the Citadel by renowned local historian Chris Robinson.

A temporary installation will be celebrated on the afternoon of June 28 when players from Plymouth Albion Rugby Club will be helping with the installation.

The story of Gog and Magog predates the Citadel's construction in the 1660s. The two legendary giants were once cut into the turf of Plymouth Hoe. Records referencing "the pycture of the Gyaunt" Gogmagog appear as early as 1493, with later records from the 16th century mentioning maintenance of these figures. While their exact appearance isn't known, they were described as club-wielding figures.

They likely represented an old pagan god and a companion goddess, serving as powerful local symbols. However, their physical presence on the Hoe came to an end with the construction of the Royal Citadel by order of King Charles II in the 1660s. The massive star-shaped fortress covered the land where the giants' images lay, effectively destroying them.

More recently, there have been projects to temporarily recreate giant figures on Plymouth Hoe, referencing this ancient and captivating local history. And of course the names "Gog and Magog" are still very much a part of Plymouth's identity, famously lent to a Wetherspoons pub on the Barbican.

Chris Robinson MBE said: “It’s hugely important that we continue to celebrate and remember the myths, legends and history that shaped, and shapes, Plymouth, Britain’s Ocean City. The return of the Giants to the Citadel grounds this summer, known also as the ‘Lost Gods of Albion’ [the original name of this country] reminds us all of the rich heritage and trading prowess of this city."