PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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Before the days of Stonehouse Bridge, passage was by pedestrian ferry across the creek or by road around Millbridge. In 1767 Lord Mount Edgcumbe, as Lord of the Manor of Stonehouse, and Sir John St Aubyn, Lord of the Manor of Stoke Damerel, obtained an Act of Parliament authorising the construction of the bridge to provide a more direct link between Plymouth Dock and Stonehouse. The tolls were fixed by the Act at 2d return for a 1-horse drawn vehicle, 3d for 2 horses and 6d for wagons drawn by more than 2 horses. Pedestrians paid a halfpenny and the bridge was for ever known as "Halfpenny Bridge." The Act also absolved the owners from paying any public or parochial rate or tax. The Bridge was opened in 1773, when the approach to it was via Stonehouse Lane (later known as King Street) and High Street rather than through Union Street, which was not built until 1815. Carriages began to ply for hire between Plymouth and Plymouth Dock in 1775. In 1828 the bridge was raised and Devonport Hill lowered, which facilitated the use of hackney carriages to provide a public service between Plymouth and Devonport the following year.
Stonehouse Bridge Toll-gate Several attempts were made by both Plymouth and Devonport to purchase the gate but the bridge, along with Stonehouse Mill Bridge, was eventually sold in February 1890 to the General Tolls Company Ltd for £122,000. The previous owners, the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe and Lord St Levan retained shares in the new company, which was registered on February 12th 1890. Its original seven shareholders were all from the London area and the directors were Mr C J Stonor, Mr E C Stonor, Mr T M Witham and Mr O Lambert. The new owners were going to collect the tolls themselves rather than put them up for auction, as was the common practice. On Sunday October 21st 1917 passage across the Stonehouse Bridge was made free for all servicemen and nurses in uniform but not on duty. After prolonged negotiations, an Act of Parliament in 1923 allowed Plymouth Town Council to buy the toll rights for £100,000. Although the Act permitted the Council to charge tolls for the next ten years, it was decided to free the inhabitants from this burden and on April 1st 1924, the Mayor, Mr Solomon Stephens, and Council visited all the remaining toll houses and officially declared them free. The creek above Stonehouse Bridge was filled in in 1972 when some 600,000 tons of ballast and rubble were used to help create 19 acres of recreational land.
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