Local resident Roland Doxsey has lived at Acre Place (Stoke, Plymouth near Devonport Park) since 1983, and has always been curious about the history of the house he lives in and the local area. During the COVID lockdown, he set about compiling his research into a book on the topic of his street and the people who have lived there in the last 150 years.
“Within Acre Place there have lived distinguished architects and naval officers, an Arctic explorer, local and wealthy self-made traders, a convict fleet agent, members of famous artist and entertainment families and a multitude of other occupations.”
Roland brought his book along to our Local Histories & Mysteries group, and has agreed to share it online here for others to read.
How did Acre Place get its name?
Part of the street that is now called Acre Place was once called St Jean D’Acre Terrace – named after a mediterranean fishing town (now Acre in northern Israel) and site of a British naval campaign in 1840, involving Commodore Charles Napier and Vice Admiral Sir Robert Stopford. You’ll recognise these names and other connections to battles from the time in other streets in the area – including Stopford Place, Napier Street and Beyrout Place.
Roland’s research also answers questions like:
- How old is Acre Place?
- What impact did the introduction of utilities (like water, gas, electricity, railways, trams) have on the development of Acre Place?
- Detailed history of who lived in each house on Acre Place
What families have lived at Acre Place (Stoke Damerel, Plymouth)?
Here is the Index of Surnames of Occupants from Roland’s book:
- Addams
- Aldrich Alexander
- Alison
- Allen
- Allenby
- Archer
- Armor
- Arnold – Ernest
- Arnold – Winifred Ash
- Banbury
- Bardin
- Barrett
- Barron
- Bartlett
- Bateman – Francis
- Bateman – Walter
- Bath
- Beale
- Bell
- Bellman
- Best
- Bickford
- Biddlecombe
- Bird
- Bisshopp
- Black
- Blackall
- Blane – Herbert
- Blane – James
- Blight
- Boissier
- Bolster – Richard
- Bolster – Thomas
- Bowden
- Boyde
- Bratt
- Bray
- Breen
- Brooks
- Brown – Dr A
- Brown – Miss Buckle
- Burleigh
- Burnard
- Burt
- Butler
- Cain
- Carnell
- Cerutty
- Chappel – Andrew
- Chapple – Mary
- Chiswell
- Cleall
- Cockram
- Cogan
- Collins
- Coombs
- Coyle
- Crispin
- Cronin
- Cullum
- Cummings
- Curnow