Lockyer Street

Of comparatively humble origins Edmund Lockyer ended up being one of the foremost citizens of his day in Plymouth. Through being a government contractor he became involved in a wide range of domestic affairs and he was one of the chief promoters of local improvements. He also was deeply involved in encouraging trade with Greenland and the Colonies.

As Mayor of Plymouth he was largely responsible for bringing the architect John Foulston to Plymouth and for the building of the Theatre Royal and Royal Hotel. This impressive complex was built in a then undeveloped part of town and it was therefore easy to see why in looking for a name for the new street running up from the Hotel the name Lockyer was chosen.

All in all Lockyer was four times elected Mayor, his son Nicholas was three times Mayor and William and Thomas Lockyer each enjoyed a term too, all of them between 1803 and 1844.