OLD PLYMOUTH . UK
www.oldplymouth.uk
 

ROADS AND STREETS IN OLD PLYMOUTH

PRINCESS SQUARE

The large houses of Princess Square lent themselves to become offices and the Square soon became the home of mostof the important solicitors practices in Plymouth.  At number 2, for example,were Messrs Woollcombe and Yonge, who were clerks tothe Eliza Hele Educational Foundation, the John Lanyon Ediucational Foundation and tothe the Trustees of the Dame Hannah Rogers School at Ivybridge.  Number 4 Princess Square housed MessrsWatts, Anthony and Yeo, and was asl othe Plymouth Registry Office, where Mr Ernest Frank Anthpony was the Superintendent Registrarfor Births, Deaths and Marriages in 1935.

On the northern side of the Square could be found the offices of the Government departments: Ministry of Pensions; Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries; Ministry of Transport (driving examiners); His Majesty's Inspector of Factories and the Customs and Excise Office.  One of the few unusual occupants of the Square was Miss Margery Odgers, a dressmaker, at number 6.

Both the photogrpahs below are looking southwards, towards Plymouth Hoe, with Notte Street on the left and Westwell Street in the foreground.

Princess Square suffered great damage during the bombing of the Second World War.
The centre of the Square, seen here ringed with fencing, was used as the City's first public car park.
© The Western Morning News Company Limited/

Common to both photographs are the showrooms and offices of Messrs R Humm and Company Limited, which were opened in January 1928 on the site of the former Repertory Theatre, 34, 35 and 36 Westwell Street, which is in the foreground.  Both photographs are believed to have been taken from the Guildhall Tower.

This post-war view shows the use to which Princess Square was put,
with Nissan hut shops now on the site of the former car park.
© The Western Morning News Company Limited.