Visit to Plymouth 2024

From Plymouth Dock to Devonport
by Sylvia Guthrig 2007

After the visit to Plymouth, I obtained this booklet from the Devon Family History Society.

It has the following extracts about Stoke Damerel:

1. Family research in Stoke Damerel is difficult.

The church registers provide myriads of names but provide no knowledge of the people themselves.

The records at the West Dock Record Office in Plymouth were recommended as a source.

2. Stoke Damerel is listed in the Domesday book for Devon in which the manor of Stoke was richer tham its manorial neighbours (Sutton or Stonehouse):

- land for 12 ploughs, 16 villagers and 4 smallholdings

- the manor of Stoke Damerel belonged to Robert of Aumale (or Robert de Albermarle) then.

He is still remembered in the name Damerel.

The manor passed from Damerels to:

Courtenays
Kennels
Branscombes
Britts and
Wise.

In 1677, the manor was sold to Sir William Morice, Secretary of State to Charles II and sometimes MP for Plymouth.

It then passed (through marriage) to the St Aubyn Family etc.

3. Plymouth Dock (later Devonport) was a purpose designed Dockyard in 1690.

4. By the early part of the 19th Century, Plymouth Dock had a much larger population than the parent town of Plymouth.

5. During all the activities, the original village of Stoke Damerel was still there.

The areas of Stoke (around the church) and Higher Stoke were still separated by open country but they gradually grew together , retaining the air of gentility, where naval or military officers might retire on half pay or retired merchants and tradesmen could keep up a quiet dignified lifestyle.

6. Stoke Damerel was set well apart from Plymouth and Stonehouse lay between them.

7. In 1797 the Royal Military Hospital was built on the opposite side of Stonehouse Creek near Stoke Church. Today this is part of the Devonport High School for Boys.

8. In 1824 George IV granted the modern flourising town of Plymouth Dock or "Dock" the new name of Devonport after a petition was submitted.

9. The population of Devonport was overtaken by Plymouth and in 1832 Devonport joined with Stonehouse to form a constituency.

10. Until 1847 Stoke Damerel Parish Church was the only Anglican church.

It had been enlarged in the late 18th Century.

11. In 1914 the three towns of Plymouth, Stoke Damerel and Stonehouse came together as the City of Plymouth.

Colin Bower
31 March 2025

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