Plymouth, Roads and Streets | Union Street, Stonehouse

PLYMOUTH
DATA

The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History

UNION STREET, STONEHOUSE

Location of Union Street, Stonehouse

Union Street, East Stonehouse, was a continuation of Union Street, Plymouth, from the Plymouth Borough boundary at the junction of Manor Street and Phoenix Street westwards until the junction with Brownlow Street, after which it became Edgcumbe Street.

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.

Union Street, Plymouth, Union Street, East Stonehouse and Edgcumbe Street formed a link between Plymouth and Devonport.

History of Union Street, Stonehouse

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.

It would appear from the map published in 1820 by Mr John Cooke, of Stonehouse, that the part of Union Street within Stonehouse was built up first and that the part within Plymouth was just a highway with few buildings. [1]

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.

Some Views of Union Street, Stonehouse


B	B

Occupants of Union Street, Stonehouse

in 1890

in 1935

Sources:

[1] "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.