Next comes the Stonehouse Establishments
then click on this thumbnail to see the geographical position of
Devonport and to reveal other Naval Establishments.
You will at this stage have deduced that Devonport Dockyard
was split into two Yards, North and South, as indeed the town of Devonport
was split. The vast majority of those on the books of the Guzz Depot would have
been fully familiar with Northern Devonport [they would have been familiar with
both Yards of course], for here were the three main dockyard gates used by the
navy [viz Drake Gate, Albert and St Levan's]; HMS Drake which accommodated most
of the personnel serving in the West Country; the civilian railway station
[Keyham more or less outside the main gate to HMS Drake] although there was the
main Devonport Station in Albert Road just above where Aggie Weston's used to be, and without doubt, the finest oggie shops imaginable, not to mention a
few good pubs. The dockyard had its own railway system and one moved between
Yards on these trains. A lesser number of personnel would have been familiar with
South Devonport even though they passed it whilst walking/riding from Devonport
over the Stonehouse Bridge to Union Street where most of the sailors did their
serious drinking and socialising. The North Devonport area and the North Yard is now [in
the 21st century] what most people associate to be Devonport Dockyard and in a
moment my story will turn wholly to the Southern areas, town and dockyard. But
first, a map of South Devonport namely that area outlined in a heavy black line.
For the purpose of orientation
only, North Devonport can be thought of as starting from this point which is
ALBERT GATE.
Site of old Aggie Westons
The following photograph album shows just a few photographs of
the area above and how it has developed.
DEVONPORT SOUTH
YARD.html
More about the South Yard.
The historic South Yard has seen the development of a heritage area that is
regularly opened up to the public on set open weekends throughout the year. The
South Yard Ropery, Covered Slip, Hangman's Cell, Royal Naval Field Gun Museum,
Naval Base Museum and Firefighting exhibition have all proved to be a big draw
for visitors who can also tour the base by coach and learn about its fascinating
history and status today as a leading MOD establishment.
See also these pages on this and other naval ports:-
where has it
all gone?
1958 naval cuts
A stunning picture of Portsmouth Dockyard - pity about the ships !
CHATHAM DOCKYARD
DEVONPORT DOCKYARD NORTH YARD
THE_PLYMOUTH_COMMAND
POMPEY_WHY_IS_IT_SO_CALLED
