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The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History

TRAMWAYS

PLYMOUTH, STONEHOUSE AND DEVONPORT TRAMWAYS COMPANY

 

Plymouth's first street tramway was constructed by The Plymouth, Stonehouse and Devonport Tramways Company, as authorised by the Plymouth, Stonehouse and Devonport Tramways Act 1870.  It was the first in Great Britain to follow the passing of the Tramways Act of that year.

Built to the standard gauge of 4 feet 8½ inches, the route commenced at the Plymouth Clock Tower and ran through Stonehouse, across Stonehouse Bridge and terminated in Cumberland Road at Devonport.  The emerald green and cream tram cars were pulled by two horses, with additional ones being attached at Stonehouse Bridge to haul the cars up the 1 in 11 Devonport Hill.

Trial runs were made on the morning of Monday February 12th 1872 and on Saturday February 17th 1872 the great and the good of the Three Towns inspected the line.  Free rides were given on the opening day, Sunday March 17th 1872.  The regular service started the following day.  The horses were provided by the horse bus owners until May 1872 when the Company bought out Messrs Moreton, Temple and Watts, and began to operate the horse buses as feeders to the tramway.  In the July the Company was taken over by the Provincial Tramways Company Ltd.

By virtue of The Plymouth, Stonehouse and Devonport Tramways Act 1874, the Company got authority to extend the line via a one-way system up Chapel Street to Fore Street and return via St Aubyn Street back to Cumberland Road again.  This was opened to traffic on Thursday October 28th 1875.

During 1900-1901 the gauge was reduced to 3ft 6ins and the line electrified.  The tracks within Plymouth and Devonport were doubled, leaving only the part within Stonehouse as single-track.  They then leased back the municipal sections for a period of 21-years.  The terminal spur in Fore Street was removed at that time.

The Board of Trade's inspection was carried out on Friday October 18th 1901 and the new electrified service commenced on Monday November 18th 1901.

Although Plymouth, Stonehouse and Devonport were amalgamated in 1914, the Company continued to run their trams independently until their leases expired on July 1st 1922, when new through-running circular services were started.

The Provincial Tramways Company Ltd obtained a winding-up order on December 7th 1936.  This was done to enable the Company to reorganise its assets.  It was the only creditor of the PS&DTCo, by whom it was owed £40,707.  At a special meeting of creditors held ay the Board of Trade offices, London, in January 1937, Mr E J G Webb, chartered accountant, of Messrs Hays, Akers and Hays, was appointed as liquidator.  [A]

Sources (incomplete):

[A]  "An Old Plymouth Tramway: Sequel to Winding-Up Order: Creditors' Meeting", Western Morning News, Plymouth, January 6th 1937.

©  Brian Moseley, Plymouth, UK

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