Union Street in
PlymouthPlymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
,
DevonDevon is a large county in England. The county is also referred to as Devonshire, although that is an unofficial name, rarely used inside of the county itself and often indicating a traditional or historical context. The county shares borders with Cornwall to the west and Dorset and Somerset to...
, is a long straight street connecting the city centre to
DevonportDevonport, formerly named Plymouth Dock or just Dock, is a district of Plymouth in the English county of Devon, although it was, at one time, the more important settlement. Devonport was originally one of the "Three Towns" which were merged in 1914 to form what would later become, in 1928, the...
, the site of Plymouth's naval base and docks. Originally the home of wealthy people, it later became an infamous red-light district and the location of most of the city's night-life.
Designed by
John FoulstonJohn Foulston was an English architect. He was a pupil of Thomas Hardwick and set up a practice in London in 1796. In 1810 he won a competition to design the Royal Hotel and Theatre group of buildings in Plymouth, Devon, and he moved there, where he remained the leading architect for twenty-five...
, it was laid out between 1812 and 1820 as a grand boulevard to connect the three towns of Plymouth, East Stonehouse and
DevonportDevonport, formerly named Plymouth Dock or just Dock, is a district of Plymouth in the English county of Devon, although it was, at one time, the more important settlement. Devonport was originally one of the "Three Towns" which were merged in 1914 to form what would later become, in 1928, the...
.
Union Street in
PlymouthPlymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
,
DevonDevon is a large county in England. The county is also referred to as Devonshire, although that is an unofficial name, rarely used inside of the county itself and often indicating a traditional or historical context. The county shares borders with Cornwall to the west and Dorset and Somerset to...
, is a long straight street connecting the city centre to
DevonportDevonport, formerly named Plymouth Dock or just Dock, is a district of Plymouth in the English county of Devon, although it was, at one time, the more important settlement. Devonport was originally one of the "Three Towns" which were merged in 1914 to form what would later become, in 1928, the...
, the site of Plymouth's naval base and docks. Originally the home of wealthy people, it later became an infamous red-light district and the location of most of the city's night-life.
History
Designed by
John FoulstonJohn Foulston was an English architect. He was a pupil of Thomas Hardwick and set up a practice in London in 1796. In 1810 he won a competition to design the Royal Hotel and Theatre group of buildings in Plymouth, Devon, and he moved there, where he remained the leading architect for twenty-five...
, it was laid out between 1812 and 1820 as a grand boulevard to connect the three towns of Plymouth, East Stonehouse and
DevonportDevonport, formerly named Plymouth Dock or just Dock, is a district of Plymouth in the English county of Devon, although it was, at one time, the more important settlement. Devonport was originally one of the "Three Towns" which were merged in 1914 to form what would later become, in 1928, the...
. Today Union Street forms part of the
A374The A374 is a main road in the United Kingdom, one of six A-roads making the boarder crossing between Devon and Cornwall. It is the most southerly of the A37x group of roads, starting and ending its journey with the A38 trunk road, from the outskirts of Plymouth in Devon to the Trerulefoot...
.
For some years after its construction, Union Street was the home of the wealthy. According to a guidebook of 1823:
Despite its upper-class associations, Union Street was the location of the first outbreaks in Plymouth of
choleraCholera, sometimes known as Asiatic or epidemic cholera, is an infectious gastroenteritis caused by enterotoxin-producing strains of the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Transmission to humans occurs through eating food or drinking water contaminated with Vibrio cholerae from other cholera patients...
in the 1849 epidemic. At the time, these outbreaks in July of that year were believed to be caused by works connected with the new
Millbay railway stationPlymouth Millbay railway station was the original railway terminus in Plymouth, Devon, England. It was used for passenger trains from 1849 to 1941.- History :...
, during which the drains of several houses had become blocked and their lower premises overflowed with sewage.
It was the continuing development along and around Union Street that led to the merger of the
Three TownsThe Three Towns is the term often used to refer to the neighbouring towns of Plymouth, Devonport and East Stonehouse in the county of Devon, England. They were formally merged in 1914 to become the Borough of Plymouth. In 1928, the Borough was granted City status by Royal Charter....
in 1914, and the granting of Plymouth's city status in 1928.
Frequented by
sailorA sailor or mariner is a person who navigates water-borne vessels or assists in their operation, maintenance, or service. The term can apply to professional mariners, military personnel, and recreational sailors as well as a plethora of other uses...
s from all over the world, it was once known as one of the West Country's most infamous streets and
red-light districtA red-light district is a neighborhood or a part of a neighborhood where businesses connected to the sex industry exist. In some red light districts prostitution may legally take place; other red light districts are known for their illegal prostitution scene...
s. Much of the area was destroyed by
German bombingPlymouth Blitz are an American football team based in Plymouth, Devon, England. The team is a member of the British Universities American Football League's Conference 3 Southern Division. The Blitz competed in the predecessor British Collegiate American Football League for four seasons up to 2006...
in World War II, more by widening and slum clearance work.
The Palace Theatre
In 1898 The Palace Theatre opened as a
music hallMusic hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
in Union Street. It was damaged by fire only eight months after opening, but re-opened in 1899 as The New Palace Theatre of Varieties. In 1961 it was converted to a bingo hall and continued in this use and as a theatre until 1983 when it became "The Academy" disco.
In May 2006 a police operation showed that class A drugs were being used and dealt there, and it closed as a result. The building is
grade II listed, and in 2008 it was included on a list by
The Victorian Societythumb|1 Priory Gardens , [[Bedford Park, London]], by [[E.J. May]] , the headquarters of The Victorian Society.The Victorian Society is the national charity responsible for the study and protection of Victorian and Edwardian architecture and other arts in Britain.It was founded in 1958 to fight the...
of the UK's ten most endangered and best Victorian and Edwardian buildings.
Today
Now Union Street consists of council flats, derelict buildings and late night
pubsA public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises in countries and regions of British influence. Although the terms often have different connotations, there is little definitive difference between pubs, bars,...
. It has a noticeable police presence late at night and early into the morning, to control drunk and lively people. As of 2002, it was also patrolled by
military policeMilitary police are normally the police of a military organization.Military police may refer to:* a section of the military solely responsible for policing the armed forces...
to maintain a degree of integrity among sailors and marines, though it is less frequented by service personnel than it once was.
During 2007 and 2008 hundreds of expensive new flats have been built immediately south of Union Street towards the cross channel ferry dock at
MillbayMillbay, also known as Millbay Docks, is an area of dockland in Plymouth, Devon, England. It lies south of Union Street, between West Hoe in the east and Stonehouse in the west.-Early history:Mill Bay was a natural inlet to the west of the Hoe...
and the local shops and businesses are fast reviving.
Some of the current clubs/pubs on Union street include;
Jester's,
Crash Manor,
Candy Stores,
C103,
Warehouse,
Maxines,
The Clipper Inn (24 Hours),
Teasers (strip club),
Temptations (strip club),
The Two Trees,
Reflex and
Flares
In Song
"Union Street (Last Post)" is a track on the 2006 Album "
WitnessA witness is someone who has firsthand knowledge about a crime or dramatic event through their senses , and can help certify important considerations to the crime or event. A witness who has seen the event firsthand is known as an "eye-witness"...
" by contemporary West Country folk duo "
Show of HandsShow of Hands is an English acoustic roots and folk duo comprising singer-songwriter Steve Knightley and multi-instrumentalist Phil Beer. Their appeal is based on the combined power of Knightley's original songs, the quality of their vocals and harmonies, and their multi-instrumental virtuosity...
". It tells a tale of love and loss amongst the pubs and clubs of Union Street at the time of the Falklands Conflict.