Barrack Street


A Cobbled Lane

Barrack Street came into existence in the late 1700s; it is one of the few remaining streets in Devonport containing the original cobbles, including the dartmoor granite on the kerb and pavement edges. Any street in Devonport lucky enough to have retained some original cobbles have either been relaid and remixed with newer modern cobbles, such as Cornwall Street, or have just a few remaining at one end of the street, such as the section of lane preserved at the corner of St Stephen Street, and this one in Barrack Street.

Barrack Street is today a short lane (truncated since WWII) entered from the west in Chapel Street. There is no exit at the eastern end as there stands one of Devonport's historic walls, rather, a remaining portion of it - this is 'The King's Inner boundary Wall' built by the Duke of Richmond c1787.


Photo 1, at 2003: The Manor Office viewed from Chapel Street, prior to it being redeveloped. The cobbled lane disappearing off to the right is Barrack Street. The King's Inner Boundary wall is visible.


Photo 2, at 2003: Looking back out to Chapel Street while standing at the eastern end of Barrack Street, with my back to the historic wall. The Manor Office, as it was then, is the building to the right. The dockyard buildings ahead, behind the Chapel Street Wall, were demolished after 2007 when the wall started being dismantled. The empty space at left was once the car park of The Brown Bear, (the Chapel Street public house that was demolished due to Arson on 22 October 2005 ) and which currently (at 2012) has planning permission applied for, to build premises facing Chapel Street.

The Manor Office

This website has a separate page for the Manor Office, but brieflly ...
  • The Manor Office is Grade II listed by English Heritage.
  • The building was orginally the offices of Stoke Damerel's/Devonport's Lord of the Manor, where rents were paid and business in the town taken care of, hence the name Manor Office, or locally sometimes referred to as the Manor House.
  • In 2001 the property was sold to a developer who, between 2005-2008 redeveloped the building from office use into residential homes. The main entrance into the new properties is via Barrack Street.

    • Barrack Street Pre WWII

    Barrack Street was once much longer than the present short strip - it reached as far west as the Market, but that end of the street was destroyed by WWII bombs.

    Plymouth Record Office contains several items relating to pre-war Barrack Street: some of their references are below ... (but please attend the record Ofice for fuller information)

    Reference Number PCC/60/1/355
    • Title Plan, rebuilding of dwelling house, Barrack Street
    • Date 25 Mar 1896
    • Description: Plan showing ground plan, first floor plan, second floor plan, elevation and side elevation in lane. Architect: Manor Office. Owner: Mr Fredman. Approved, 26 Mar 1896

    Reference PCC/60/1/624
    • Plans, alterations to dwelling house, 4 Barrack Street
    • 26 Oct 1899
    • Plan showing transverse section of attics. Plan showing elevation as at present, elevation as proposed, second floor plan as at present, second floor plan as proposed, attic plan, transverse section as at present and transverse section as proposed. Notice of intention to build, 26 Oct 1899. Architect: Henry George Luff. Owner: Richard Heard, butcher. Approved, 30 Oct 1899

    Reference PCC/60/1/1287
    • Plan, rebuilding of dwelling house, 7 Barrack Street
    • 26 Mar 1914
    • Plan showing ground floor plan, first floor plan, second floor plan, section A-A, elevation, premises as existing and section. Also shows block plan showing barrack Street, Cumberland Street, Cross Street, South Street, Mill Street and St Aubyn Street. Notice of Intention to Build, 26 Mar 1914. Architect: Charles Cheverton. Owner: John Henry Hoskin

    Reference PCC/60/1/1103
    • Plans, The Butchers Arms, Barrack Street
    • May-Jun 1908
    • Plan showing ground floor plan, first floor plan and second floor plan, 27 May 1908. Plan showing front elevation, section and back elevation, 17 Jun 1908. Plan showing first floor, second floor and block plan of site showing Cross Street [now Raglan Road], barrack Street and Cumberland Street, 18 Jun 1908. Notice of intention to build, 25 Jun 1908. Architect: Charles Cheverton. Owner: Captain Knowling of 'The Eagle Brewery'. Application approved, 13 Jun 1908.

    Reference PCC/60/1/16427
    • Reconstruction of combined shop and dwelling premises at 1, Barrack Street
    • 1949
    • Named owners: The Executors of M Roseman, deceased.

    Reference 387/313
    • Devonport, 10 Barrack Street
    • 1889-1890

    Reference 387/314
    • Devonport, 11 Barrack Street
    • 1909

    Barrack Street Post 2000


    Photo 3: A 2003 view of Barrack Street, showing the old rear entrance to the Manor Office, since altered by redevelopment. The height of the historic wall is more apparent in this photo.


    Photo 4 above: Another 2003 view of Barrack Street, showing the Manor Office prior to redevelopment, whilst image 5 below is the same view in 2005, during redevelopment.

    Now, at 2012, the only residential properties in Barrack Street are those contained within the Manor Office plot. There are 16 homes, all built betwwen 2005-2008, all sharing the same courtyard space, where residents park their cars - as visible in the next two images.

    See the Manor Office page for further views of the redeveloped building. The following, whilst not full and complete, does give an indication of property values in Barrack Street in the period 2007-2012.

    Purchase Prices:

    1 Barrack Street - Terrace
    • 2008 May 2nd. sold for £175,000 [1]
    • 2012 January. According to Zoopla, the price dropped (as per price drop generally, due to the UK financial situation between 2008-2012), from it's £175,000 price when new to a new estimated value of £162,814 (rental value £728 per month)
    • 2012 February. The price dropped in one month, reflecting the UK generally, new estimate of £154,142 (yet the monthly rental value increased in the same month to £745). [1]

    3 barrack st - 3 bed Terrace
    • 2007 november 14. sold for £173,500 [2a]
    • 2010 January 27. listed for sale at ££169,950 [2b]
    • 2011 March 25. sold for £161,500 [2a]
    • 2012 February. the price continues to drop each year - currently valued by Zoopla at £159,102 (or £770 per month rental). Note if you click the same link [2c] in future years the prices will probably show different again

    7 Barrack Street -Terrace
    • 2007 April 20. sold for £184,500
    • 2012 January. zoopla estimate of £166,292 (rental at £744 month)

    9 Barrack Street - Flat
    • 2007 March 9th. sold for £146,500

    11 Barrack Street - 3 bed Terrace
    • 2007 August 31. sold for £210,000
    • 2012 January. new value at £276,957 (monthly rental value £1,239)

    15 Barrack Street - 3 bed Terrace
    • 2008 May 2nd. sold for £210,000
    • 2009 November 09. listed for sale at £217,000
    • 2012 January. values estimated by Zoopla as £197,178 purchase, and £882 monthly rental

    17 Barrack Street - Terrace
    • 2008 June 03. sold for £245,000

    References

    [1] February 2012 values by Zoopla www.zoopla.co.uk
    [2a] www.zoopla.co.uk
    [2b] zoopla www.zoopla.co.uk
    [2c] zoopla www.zoopla.co.uk
    All property prices are available from Zoopla at www.mouseprice.com/

    (page added February 2012)