Main Gate, Royal William Victualling Yard
MAIN GATE ROYAL WILLIAM VICTUALLING YARD, CREMYLL STREET
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1378530
- Date first listed:
- 13-Aug-1999
- List Entry Name:
- Main Gate, Royal William Victualling Yard
- Statutory Address:
- MAIN GATE ROYAL WILLIAM VICTUALLING YARD, CREMYLL STREET
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2006-05-10
- Reference:
- IOE01/14886/19
- Rights:
- © Mr Gerald Rendle. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1378530
- Date first listed:
- 13-Aug-1999
- List Entry Name:
- Main Gate, Royal William Victualling Yard
- Statutory Address 1:
- MAIN GATE ROYAL WILLIAM VICTUALLING YARD, CREMYLL STREET
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- MAIN GATE ROYAL WILLIAM VICTUALLING YARD, CREMYLL STREET
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- City of Plymouth (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- SX 46260 53635
Details
This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 20/12/2011
SX 4653 NW
740-1/65/735
PLYMOUTH
CREMYLL STREET, Stonehouse
Main Gate, Royal William Victualling Yard
GV I
Archway. c.1829-33, by Sir John Rennie Jr, for the Victualling Board, possibly with Sir J Chantrey sculptor. Granite ashlar, possibly Portland stone statue. Late Georgian style.
PLAN: rectangular plan triumphal arch with flanking single-depth lodges. 2-storey arch with single-storey lodges each side.
EXTERIOR: a massive archway in channelled granite, with deep pilasters flanking a round arch, plain frieze with fine carved ox heads over the pilasters, cornice and plinth to a large statue of William IV in Roman garb; lower entrances either side have clasping pilasters, string and parapet, with flat-headed doorways with incised voussoirs under a round panel with fouled crossed anchors, the victualling yard symbol; the S door leads to the Porter's lodge, the N to the Yard. The reverse elevation is similar, with engaged columns to the side doors. The arch has good studded oak double doors ramped up to the sides each of 10 fielded panels with iron cresting, and there are matching doors to the sides; these replaced the originals in 1886. The inside of the arch has doorways in antis. An area of granite paving extends through the arch to the front.
HISTORY: the only land entrance to the Yard apart from the cattle door to the N. With the flanking Slaughterhouse and Police House (qv), the arch forms an appropriately imposing entrance to the yard. Rennie consulted Chantrey on the design of the statue, but its actual sculptor is unknown.
The Yard is one of the most remarkable and complete early C19 industrial complexes in the country, and a unique English example of Neo-Classical planning of a state manufacturing site.
(Sources: Keystone Historic Buildings Consultants: The Royal William Victualling Yard, Stonehouse: 1994: 54-57; The Mariner's Mirror: Coad J: Historic Architecture of HM Naval Base Devonport 1689-1850: London: 1983: 382-390; Coad J: The Royal Dockyards 1690-1850: Aldershot: 1989: 282-290).
Listing NGR: SX4626053635
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 476480
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
The Royal William Victualling Yard, (1994), 54-57
Coad, J G, The Royal Dockyards 1690-1850: Architecture and Engineering Works of the Sailing Navy, (1989), 282-290
Coad, J, The Mariners Mirror The Historic Architecture of HM Naval Base Devonport 1689-1850, (1983), 382-390
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 09-Jun-2026 at 09:51:01.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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