The year 1957 was a significant moment in the evolution of New George Street, a key component of the "Plan for Plymouth" devised by Sir Patrick Abercrombie and J. Paton Watson. By this time, the city was successfully transitioning from the "pre-fab" era of the immediate post-war years into a permanent, modern metropolis. New George Street served as one of the two main horizontal shopping axes of the new city center, running parallel to Royal Parade and intersecting the grand north-south boulevard of Armada Way.
In 1957, the street was characterized by its clean, Portland stone-clad buildings, which represented the height of contemporary urban design. The architecture was intended to be a symbol of order and cleanliness, a direct response to the devastation of the 1941 Blitz. This was the year that Plymouth's new heart truly began to beat with the rhythm of the modern consumer age, as the city became the regional shopping hub for the entire West Country.
The Architectural Vision of the 1950s
Walking down New George Street in 1957, a visitor would have noticed the strict adherence to the "Abercrombie Grid." The buildings were constructed with a uniform height and aesthetic, using a light grey stone that caught the Devon sun. This uniformity was a deliberate choice to create a sense of civic dignity. By 1957, the temporary "British Restaurants" and corrugated iron shops that had occupied the ruins were being replaced by massive, multi-story department stores and retail blocks.
The street featured wide, level pavements designed for large volumes of foot traffic. One of the most significant architectural features of the era was the inclusion of rear-access loading bays for all the shops. This meant that delivery lorries did not clog the main thoroughfare, leaving New George Street as a dedicated space for pedestrians and the light movement of private cars. It was a model of efficiency that many other bombed British cities sought to replicate.
The Cinema Landscape: Odeon and the Gaumont
In 1957, the cinematic experience was a central part of life on and around New George Street. It is a common point of confusion to place the "modern" Odeon directly on New George Street in 1957, but the reality was slightly different. The Odeon of 1957 was located on Frankfort Street, which sat at the western end of the new shopping precinct. This building was an Art Deco survivor that had managed to escape the Blitz. Inside, it maintained its 1930s glamour, providing a sophisticated backdrop for the major films of the year, such as The Bridge on the River Kwai and Island in the Sun.
However, the "new" cinematic era was beginning to encroach. Just a short walk away, the Gaumont (formerly the Palace) was also a major draw. The legendary Drake Cinema (which would later become the city's most famous Odeon site at Derry's Cross) was still under construction in 1957 and would not open until the following year. Therefore, for the Plymothian of 1957, the Frankfort Street Odeon remained the reliable anchor of the Rank Organisation's presence in the city center, its neon signage lighting up the corner of the new development every evening.
The Retail Giants: Derry’s and the Department Stores
The true engine of New George Street in 1957 was its retail offering. This was the year that the massive Derry’s department store was a dominant force on the corner of the street. Derry’s was more than just a shop; it was a social landmark, featuring a fashionable restaurant and the city's first modern escalators. Nearby, the grand Dingles building (located on the Royal Parade/Armada Way corner but influencing all New George Street trade) had recently been completed, offering a level of luxury that rivaled London’s West End.
The street was also home to a variety of national names that would define the mid-century British high street, including Woolworths and various furniture showrooms. In 1957, these shops were the primary showrooms for the "consumer boom." Families would visit New George Street to marvel at the new labor-saving appliances, such as twin-tub washing machines and the latest television sets, often purchased on "Higher Purchase" (the Never-Never) which was becoming a standard part of the UK economy.
Social Rhythms and the Evening Promenade
Social life in 1957 was governed by the opening hours of the big stores. On a Saturday, the street was packed with people from across Devon and Cornwall, arriving by the red and white buses of Plymouth City Transport. The atmosphere was one of formal bustle; men typically wore hats and coats, while women dressed in the tailored styles of the late fifties.
After the shops closed, the street transitioned into a leisure space. The wide boulevards of the Abercrombie Plan were perfect for the "evening promenade," where people would walk from the Hoe or the housing estates to the cinemas. The cafes near New George Street were the haunts of the first "teenagers," a demographic that was just beginning to emerge in 1957. These young people, influenced by American rock and roll, would gather in milk bars and coffee houses, providing a vibrant, slightly rebellious energy to the otherwise orderly stone streets.
Transport and Accessibility
The planners of 1957 had designed New George Street to be accessible. While private car ownership was rising, the city was still designed around the bus. The nearby Royal Parade acted as the main terminal, funneling thousands of people into New George Street every hour. For those who did drive, the 1957 street offered something rare in an old English city: space. The wide roadway and the nascent car parks nearby were a revelation to drivers who were used to the narrow, choked lanes of the pre-war city.
This accessibility ensured that New George Street was the undisputed commercial heart of the region. It felt metropolitan, efficient, and, above all, clean. The contrast between the grey, soot-stained buildings of other northern industrial cities and the bright, Portland stone of Plymouth was a major point of local pride. In 1957, the street was the successful realization of a decade of hard work and vision, proving that Plymouth had not just survived the war but had been reborn in a superior form.
The Legacy of the 1957 Street
By the end of 1957, New George Street had set the template for the modern British shopping center. It combined high-end department stores, accessible public transport, and grand entertainment venues in a single, cohesive plan. While the specific businesses have changed and the cinemas have moved or closed, the fundamental layout remains a testament to the 1950s belief in progress and planning.
The 1957 version of New George Street remains the "gold standard" for those who remember the city's reconstruction. It was a time when the Portland stone was still white, the neon of the Frankfort Street Odeon was a beacon of modern entertainment, and the broad pavements felt like the beginning of a limitless future. It remains one of the most successful examples of post-war architectural bravery in the United Kingdom.
Helpful Links
The Box - Plymouth Archives Old Plymouth - New George Street History Cinema Treasures - Odeon Frankfort Street
Comments
Post a Comment