Plymouth, Roads and Streets | Marlborough Street, Devonport

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The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History

MARLBOROUGH STREET, DEVONPORT

Location of Marlborough Street, Devonport

Marlborough Street in Devonport ran southwards from the top of New Passage Hill to Princes Street (incorrectly called Princess Street on the map).

Origin of the name, Marlborough Street

It is not clear whether Marlborough Street was named in honour of General John Churchill, the 1st Duke of Marlborough (1650-1722), or because it gave access to Marlborough Square Barracks.

Marlborough Street, Devonport.

History of Marlborough Street, Devonport

The beginnings of Marlborough Street are shown on Donn's map of 1765 but it is not named as such [1]. In 1788/89 a gateway was constructed through The Lines and a roadway built down to New Passage [2]. This is probably when Marlborough Street first came into existence. There were certainly some occupants of properties in 1812 (see link below) and Marlborough Street is shown on Cooke's map of 1820 [3].

Marlborough Square Barracks was demolished sometime between 1825 and 1830 [4]. Standidge's Plan of 1842 shows all of the eastern side built but only the middle part of the western side [5].

An unidentified Corporation bus skidded into the window of Messrs J C Tozer Ltd early on the morning of Wednesday October 8th 1930. No one was injured and the bus was not damaged but the large plate-glass window was smashed. [6]

Because of the congestion being caused in Marlborough Street by the increase in motor cars, the parking on both sides of the Street and the introduction of double-deck motor buses on services passing along the thoroughfare, Plymouth's Watch Committee decided on Wednesday May 20th 1931 to introduce a scheme whereby parking was to be permitted on one side of the Street only. As an experiment for three months, the side on which parking was allowed was to be changed each week. [7]

In November 1931 the Ministry of Transport approved the installation of traffic lights at the junction of Marlborough Street with Fore Street [8].

Some Views of Marlborough Street, Devonport


The southern end of Marlborough Street, Devonport, where it met Princes Street.	The southern end of Marlborough Street, Devonport, is on the extreme right of this photograph from 1956. © Crown Copyright: Admiralty, Devonport.

Occupants of Marlborough Street, Devonport

in 1812

in 1890

in 1935

Principal Sources:

[1] Donn, Benjamin, "A Map of the County of Devon 1765", facsimile, Devon and Cornwall Record Society and the University of Exeter, Exeter, 1965.

[2] Pye, Andrew, and Woodward, Freddy, "The Historic Defences of Plymouth", Cornwall County Council Planning Department, Truro, July 1996, ISBN 1 898166 46 3.

[3] "Plan of the Towns and Harbour of Plymouth, Stonehouse, Dock, Morice Town, Stoke and the Environs in the County of Devon", engraved by John Cooke, Stonehouse, 1820.

[4] Street and Trade Directories, 1824 and 1830, Plymouth Local Studies Library.

[5] "Plan of the Parish of Stoke Damerell in the County of Devon", Standidge & Company, London, 1842.

[6] "Plympton Child's Tragic Death: Six Road Accidents at Plymouth", Western Morning News, Plymouth, October 9th 1930.

[7] "One-Way Traffic: Decisions of Plymouth watch Committee", Western Morning News, Plymouth, May 21st 1931.

[8] Western Morning News, Plymouth, November 20th 1931.