Plymouth, Roads and Streets | Union Street, Plymouth

PLYMOUTH
DATA

The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History

UNION STREET

Location of Union Street, Plymouth

Union Street, Plymouth, ran from Bank of England Place and Derry's Clock to the Borough boundary at the junction of Manor Street/Phoenix Street, after which it became Union Street, East Stonehouse, as far as the junction with Brownlow Street.

The line of Union Street then continued to Stonehouse Bridge as Edgcumbe Street.

Union Street, Plymouth, included Union Terrace, Lockyer Terrace, The Octagon, and Squire Terrace on the south side and Devonshire Terrace, Flora Place, The Octagon and Sussex Place on the north side.

From Bank of England Place and George Street, Union Street, Plymouth, ran westwards to Union Street, Stonehouse.

From Bank of England Place and George Street, Union Street, Plymouth, ran westwards to Union Street, Stonehouse.

Origin of the name, Union Street

It united the three towns of Plymouth, to the east, Stonehouse, through which it partly ran, and Devonport, over Stonehouse Bridge to the west.

History of Union Street, Plymouth

The area covered by Union Street, or New Road as it was originally known, was marshland known as the Sourepool. It was gradually drained and reclaimed and in 1815 this Street, linking the Three Towns, was opened. It was planned by Mr John Foulston as a roadway of high distinction and included a novel feature, The Octagon.

There was a turnpike gate at the junction with Phoenix Street and Manor Street and another toll-house on the Stonehouse Bridge so transportation from Plymouth to Dock, and vice versa, was at a price. However, the Stonehouse Turnpike Trust was dissolved in 1843.

Plymouth's first tramway was opened along Union Street in 1872 by the Plymouth, Stonehouse and Devonport Tramway Company.

During the mid-1890s four premises on the corner of Union Street and Phoenix Street were demolished to make way for the New Palace Theatre of Varieties: namely Frederick Charles Burner, tobacconist; Jonathan Crowl, butcher; Mark Durbin, provision dealer; and John Shepheard, bootmaker.

Some Views of Union Street, Plymouth


Union Street, Plymouth, looking westwards towards the New Palace Theatre.	The Great Western Railway bridge across Union Street, Plymouth, in the 1920s or 1930s.


Union Street, Plymouth, looking eastwards from the GWR railway bridge towards George Street.	Union Street, Plymouth, looking westwards from Bank of England Place in the 1930s.

More photographs to follow.
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Occupants of Union Street

in 1852

in 1890

in 1935

Sources (incomplete):

"Plan of the Towns and Harbour of Plymouth, Stonehouse, Dock, Morice-town, Stoke and the Environs in the County of Devon", John Cooke, Stonehouse, 1820.