Plymouth, Tramways | Plymouth, Stonehouse & Devonport Tramways Company

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The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History

TRAMWAYS | PLYMOUTH, STONEHOUSE & DEVONPORT TRAMWAYS COMPANY

THE ROUTE

Updated: 07 August 2011

The line constructed by the Plymouth, Stonehouse and Devonport Tramways Company started at the Plymouth Clock Tower, where George Street, Lockyer Street, and Union Street (Bank of England Place) met. From there it ran along Union Street, Plymouth, to the boundary with Stonehouse at Manor and Phoenix Streets.

After passing along Union street, Stonehouse, and Edgcumbe Street the line then turned into Chapel Street and ran across Stonehouse Bridge, where there was a toll house. Then the line climbed Devonport Hill, first at 1 in 25, then 1 in 13 and finally reached 1 in 11 before lessening to 1 in 53 through the twin portals of the Barrier Gate at the top of the Hill. The line then passed along Cumberland Road before turning left into Ker Street Ope. It terminated in the triangle of land at the junction of Ker Street and Duke Street.

A horse-tram of the Plymouth, Stonehouse and Devonport Tramways Company climbing Devonport Hill

A PS&D horse tram about to ascend Devonport Hill.

A private Act of Parliament in 1874 authorised the Company to extend the line from Cumberland Road up Chapel Street to a terminal spur in Fore Street and return via St Aubyn Street back to Cumberland Road again. This resulted in an interesting cross-over at the bottom of Chapel Street, where trams bound for Plymouth crossed over the line used by the incoming trams from Plymouth.

During 1875 the line was extended at the Devonport end up to Fore Street. The work was done by Mr Charles D Savill, of London. Mr W A Pudney was the superintendent of works, assisted by a Mr Brook. The new track was to be used for the first time on Thursday October 28th 1875. [a]

During 1900-1901 the line was reconstructed for electrical operation. The gauge was reduced to 3ft 6ins. The tracks within Plymouth and Devonport were doubled and sold to their respective Corporations. The section within Stonehouse remained in the Company's hands and was still single track with passing loops. They then leased back the two municipal sections for a period of 21-years.

As Fore Street had become busier over the years, the opportunity was taken to remove the terminal spur so that other traffic was not held up by trams stopped in the middle of the main road. The system was then reversed so that inbound trams stopped at the top of St Aubyn Street to set down passengers and again at the top of Chapel Street, outbound, to pick up people for Plymouth.

In 1922 the system was linked up with the main Plymouth one at Fore Street and Derry's Clock, which enabled through-running circular services to be started.

Sources (incomplete):

[a] "The Tramway Extension", Western Daily Mercury, Plymouth, October 27th 1875.