Plymouth: Ask three people what comes to mind about Plymouth and you will likely get three very different answers!
It’s literally a city reborn after the devastation of the Second World War. As a naval port it had been the target of invasion over the centuries. These days it is a thriving city lying on the River Tamar and reaching into Plymouth Sound where naval, commercial and domestic shipping rub along side by side. Just a short hop across the ferry or through the Saltash Tunnel and Cornwall beckons.
Historians will reference Sir Francis Drake citing him as the founder of Plymouth as he departed for his round the world (as it was then) trips and defeating the Spanish Armada - was he really playing bowls on The Hoe as they came into view?
And, of course, it’s a busy port whisking enthusiastic travellers to numerous European holiday destinations. A transient business but one that puts the city on the map for many a traveller.
Like all cities it has expanded massively as the commercial, retail, educational, sporting and medical services flourish (not forgetting the regional theatre that often brings national stars on the first leg of a tour). So too has the housing market with many 20th century impressive houses compatible with the demand of a successful area.
For those wishing to live a little further out of the city it’s an easy drive to the twin waterside villages of Newton Ferrers and Noss Mayo – a secluded inlet of the River Yealm favoured with sailors. The adventurous may prefer the southern fringes of Dartmoor National Park – again just a few miles north.
Fortunately, the bombs of the forties didn’t destroy all the history and there are many Victorian and Edwardian homes that survived, and they are always a favourite with growing families looking for a little more space. These sit comfortably with the 1930s’ and post war houses that inevitably spread onto the outlying hills, often commanding great views to the waterside.
The waterfront itself is no longer a solely commercial area. The development of the Royal William Yard into exclusive apartments brings a new dimension to the area’s buildings and encouragement for the restaurants, bars and shops, both in the Year and in The Barbican - a favoured destination with tourists and residents alike - especially those using the local marinas.
So many places in Devon offer an eclectic environmental mix of services and amenities for all ages and requirements both business and social, but Plymouth perhaps exceeds them all – a truly modern city in which to live and to embrace. ‘It’s all about coming home.’
Nigel Bishop is a property search consultant at Recoco. recoco.co.uk
