PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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Although the registration of births, deaths and marriages commenced on July 1st 1837, there was no such thing as a Register Office until the local administration of the system was transferred to the local authorities, as required by the Local Government Act 1929. However, the original legislation in 1836 did require that an office be provided for the Superintendent Registrar because he was required to officiate at marriages. The Stoke Damerel one was at 20 Fore Street, Devonport, and the Plymouth one was at 7 Norley Street. In later years Mr Albert Gard's office in Saint Aubyn Street, Devonport, was known as the Register Office. Read about the first marriages .....
The Plymouth Register Office, Belle
Vue Place, in 1951. As from Friday April 3rd 1857 the Plymouth Register Office was transferred to number 5 Athenaeum Terrace. [1] The registrars of births and deaths mostly worked from their homes and until 1875 were required to travel around their districts to the places where the events actually occurred. After that date it became the responsibility of those involved to report the events to the Registrar. In 1890 The Superintendent Registrar of Births, Deaths & Marriages for Plymouth was Mr John Williams Matthews, of Messrs Rooker, Matthews, Harrison, & Matthews, solicitors, of 6 Frankfort Street, Plymouth. The Registrar of Births and Deaths for the St Andrew's Parish was Mr Henry James Barter, of 75 King Gardens, Plymouth, while his colleague for the Parish of Charles was Mr Robert George Bird of 1 Radnor Place, Plymouth. The Superintendent Registrar of Births, Deaths & Marriages for East Stonehouse was Mr Sidney Heath Phillips, solicitor, of 10 Frankfort Street, Plymouth. The Registrar of Births and Deaths was Mr George Carter Bignell, of 7 Clarence Place, Stonehouse. It appears that Devonport had only a Superintendent Registrar of Births, Deaths & Marriages, who was Mr Albert Gard, solicitor, of 19 St Aubyn Street, Devonport. The Registrar of Births and Deaths for Plympton St Mary Union was Mr James Scott of Ridgway, Plympton, and the Superintendent Registrar of Births, Deaths & Marriages was Mr Alfred Sydney Clark, solicitor, of 3 Moorland Terrace, Ridgway, Plympton. In 1920 The Superintendent Registrar of Birth, Deaths & Marriages was Mr E F Anthony, of Messrs Watts & Anthony, solicitors, of 4 Princess Square, Plymouth. The Deputy Superintendent was Mr F W Murray of the same address. The Registrars of Births and Deaths for Plymouth were Mr F J Axworthy, of 13 Greenbank Avenue; Mr Richard C Davy, of 3 St Andrew Street; and Mr R Mears, 61 Mutley Plain, Plymouth. The Superintendent Registrar of Births, Deaths & Mariages for Devonport was Mr Edward Ernest Gard, of Messrs A Gard & Company, solicitors, of 6 St Aubyn Street, Devonport. The Registrar of Births and Deaths for the Stoke Sub-District of Devonport was Mr J K Brenton, of 3 Donegal Terrace, Molesworth Road, Devonport. The Registrar of Births and Deaths for the St Aubyn Sub-District of Devonport was Mr William H Lamb, auctioneer and estate agent, of 7 Chapel Street, Devonport. The Superintendent Registrar of Births, Deaths & Marriages in East Stonehouse was Mr R R Rodd, solicitor, of 52 Union Street, East Stonehouse. The Registrar of Births and Deaths for East Stonehouse was Mr Colin Reep of 46 Emma Place, East Stonehouse. 1937 and after It was only in July 1937, after the appointment of Mr Walter Naylor as Superintendent Registrar, that Plymouth amalgamated the registration districts of Devonport and East Stonehouse in to one Register Office at 40 Whimple Street, Plymouth. It was open on Mondays to Fridays from 9.30am to 1pm and again from 2.30 to 4.30pm and on Saturdays from 9am to 12 Moon. Registration of Births and Deaths could be made on Mondays and Fridays between 10am and 1pm and 5.30 until 8pm; on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10am to 1pm and 2.30 until 5pm; on Wednesdays from 10am until 1pm and on Saturdays between 10am and 12 Noon. When those premises were destroyed during the Second World War the Register Office moved to Thorn Park at Mutley, then to Belle Vue Place at North Road and Portland Villas, before moving to its present location in Lockyer Street, near Plymouth Hoe. Current Register Office The current Plymouth Register Office in Lockyer Street was opened on Wednesday April 7th 1982 by the Registrar General, Mr Roger Thatcher. A commemorative plaque was then unveiled by Councillor George Creber, chairman of Devon County Council. Also present was the Deputy Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Councillor John Pascoe, and the then Chief Superintendent Registrar of Plymouth, Mr Dan Galliford. Messrs Carkeek and Sons Ltd, were the contractors. The building was designed by staff at the Devon County Architect's office and cost £381,619. Sources (incomplete):
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