Plymstock

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Plymstock is a parish and suburb of Plymouth in the English county of Devon.

The name derives from the Anglo-Saxon for 'holy place on the river Plym', with the river Plym in turn being named after the neighbouring town of Plympton. Situated on the east bank of the river Plym it is geographically and historically part of the South Hams. It comprises the villages of Billacombe, Elburton, Goosewell, Hooe, Mountbatten, Oreston, Pomphlett, Staddiscombe, Turnchapel and Plymstock proper, the centrally located village after which the parish and suburb is named. The parish church is St Mary and All Saints. The pedestrianised 1960s Broadway consists of a number of shops including two big supermarkets, two banks and other local amenities including both a fire station and a small police station. At Pomphlett there is a superstore and drive-thru burger restaurant.

Until the 20th century Plymstock was a rural parish but began to develop rapidly just before and after the Second World War as a residential area outside Plymouth but acting as a dormitory area for the city. In 1967, Plymstock, along with Plympton, was absorbed into the City of Plymouth and today, like Plympton, forms a populous and mostly home-owning south-eastern suburb of the city.

Like Plympton it is a 'dispersal area'. After a series of persistent public disorders and youth gang problems the police and council intervened taking powers that enable them to break up and move on groups of two or more persons if they consider that to do so would assist in keeping the peace.

The population at the time of the 2001 Census was recorded at 24,103.

In 1991, one of Plymstock's former residents, Mark Williams, became the youngest person to join the elite SAS Regiment.

Plymstock has its own cricket club which plays at Dean Cross. The club comprises several players including Dom Wood, who averaged just 7.334 runs in the 2007 season. There are numerous public spaces including a huge public sports area at Staddiscombe. There is a major golf club at Staddon Heights and a commercial driving range near Elburton. Strident campaigning to get permission and funding for a local public swimming pool have so far failed. Rowing is available on the river Plym, there is a sailing club at Oreston and a large watersports centre at Turnchapel. There are public tennis courts at Dean Cross.

There are many state primary schools in the area and two very large Comprehensive Schools, Coombe Dean and Plymstock School. There are no local independent school options although children who chose to take and get a very high pass in the 11 plus can attend one of the three grammar schools in Plymouth.

Frequent and efficient buses connect most areas of Plymstock with routes across the city and linking with the railway station and Derriford hospital. There is a water-taxi linking Mountbatten with Plymouth Barbican.

The area invariably returns a Tory MP reflecting with Plympton a more right wing community than the rest of the city. Gary Streeter is the present conservative member.

There are misgivings about the impact of the imminent building of the vast Sherford New Town which will fill the gap between Elburton, Yealmpton, Lyneham and Saltram.

[edit] Folklore

Childe's Tomb on Dartmoor is the site of the death of Childe who was caught in a snowstorm, killed and disembowelled his horse and climbed inside for shelter, but still froze to death. He left a message to say that the first person to bury him would get his lands at Plymstock. The greedy monks of Tavistock buried him and claimed the lands. The ghosts of monks carrying a bier have been seen at Childe's tomb.^[1]