Jinkin Avenue

Councillor Thomas Jinkin was born in Millbrook in 1821 and moved to Plymouth when he was 16. An apprentice builder, within five years he had set himself up in business and went on to become one of the most successful contractors in the area.

Described as being of a cheery disposition, a total abstainer and sturdy advocate of temperance principals, Jinkin did a lot of work for the Corporation, including building some of the largest sewers in the town. He also did extensive work for the railways - extending Millbay Station, widening Union Street bridge and constructing the viaduct across Deadlake (what was Stonehouse Creek), plus a number of other railway works in Devon and Cornwall.

A Liberal, he became a councillor in 1879 and served on a great many committees. There is today a Jinkin Trust, which owns land and property close by Jinkin Avenue, which runs off the back of Queens Road, Lipson.

EH 22 December 1998