Devonport

The story of Devonport really began in 1691 with the foundation of the dockyard although until 1824 this, the youngest of the Three Towns, was known as Plymouth Dock.

However while it was undoubtedly the youngest within a hundred years it had become the largest, indeed by the 1820 it had a population in excess of 33,000 which was then some 12,00 0 greater than that of Plymouth itself. It was even bigger than Exeter and therefore it is no great surprise to learn that the inhabitants of Dock petitioned the King to grant them a change of name.

This request was sanctioned in 1823 and on 1st January 1824 the new appellation of Devonport 'was proclaimed in many public places, with every demonstration of rejoicing'. The name of course spoke for itself, this was then the biggest town west of Bristol .. it had become the port of Devon.