Shopping in Devonport
Localised pockets of Shops
For 220 years Fore Street was the main shopping street in Devonport. Following WW2
Fore Street and the surrounding streets, obliterated by bombing, were absorbed by
the Admiralty. (which subsequently built a wall around the entire plot - known as
the South Yard enclave) Since then both Marlborough Street and Albert Road have
been the two largest shopping areas in Devonport - neither of them achieving the
status and glory that was once Fore Street.
Due to the quirkiness of Devonport having its own set of 'character areas' it may
be that a single central shopping street will not arise again. Even though the Admiralty
have now released the South Yard enclave, and Fore Street is at time of writing,
2009, being rebuilt, it will contain residential homes - a main shopping street is
not part of the regeneration plans for Fore Street. Therefore, the following pockets of shops dotted around
Devonport will continue their neighbourhood function.
Albert Road
There is a wide variety of shops in
Albert Road - check link for a listing and comments.
Car Boot Shopping
Devonport has a thriving and very popular 'car boot' shopping centre - it is located
in King's Road, on the site of the old Stonehouse Creek. Car boot days are Saturdays
and Sundays.
Chapel Street - New Central Thoroughfare Planned
Note that under the regeneration programme Chapel Street is to be built up as a recognised
central thoroughfare, however, it will not be a shopping main street of the type
that Fore Street once was, or contain even as many shops as Albert Road. Shopping
in the regenerated Chapel Street will be limited and, because of the global financial
crisis, possibly limited to a supermarket only - the outcome remains to be seen
given today's climate.
Cumberland Street - The Old Quarter
With so much regeneration going on locally the terrace of shops in
Cumberland Street could now safely be called 'the old quarter'. It's very
pretty, and contains all listed buildings. The entire terrace/block is listed.
Fore Street Shops
Following WW2 the Admiralty temporarily absorbed the western half of Fore Street
(for about 50 years). Since its return to the community recently the western half
is being rebuilt, as part of our regeneration, but most of that end of Fore Street
will contain homes - apart from a planned supermarket for the corner bordering Chapel
Street. Of the remaining parts of Fore Street, the section near to the Mecca bingo
hall contains a small cluster of shops - these are listed on our
Fore Street web page.
George Street Shops
There is a Co-op Supermarket at the entrance into George Street and a terrace of
shops in lower George Street, not far from the entrance to Mount Wise Park. We will
upload a page containing details shortly.
Marlborough Street Shops
The ambience of Marlborough Street is changing; compared to just ten years
ago there are now fewer customers in the street, and with that comes fewer traders
prepared to open up shop. The most recent business to close was the public house 'Caseys',
leaving The Revenue as the last remaining public house in Marlborough Street. Even so, there
is still a variety of shops, see our
Marlborough Street page. That only one public house remains is in fact good news
for shoppers; it used to be uncomfortable to pass through the street, with beer
drinkers hovering around, but those times have passed. Like so much of Devonport
at this time, Marlborough Street will see even more changes over the next decade.
updated Sept 2009