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Plymouth Naval War MemorialPlymouth Naval War Memorial · Photo: tormentor4555 · CC BY-SA 3.0
A−History Grade
History of Plymouth · Historic England

738 listed buildings, 20 of them Grade I

Historic England counts them inside Plymouth’s built-up area, 28 for every 10,000 residents. It also has 29 scheduled monuments. 23% of its homes were built before 1919. We have photos of 68 of its listed buildings and 8 old views of the town. Plymouth grades A− for history: #24 of 47 in Devon.

20Grade I83Grade II*1600old map29scheduled monuments15on Southside Street
Listed buildings
738
28 per 10,000 residents
Grade I
20
exceptional interest
Grade II*
83
more than special interest
Scheduled monuments
29
6 registered parks & gardens
Homes built before 1919
23%
typical UK town 15%
In pictures

Plymouth in 94 photos and old views

Nearly every Grade I and II* building, photographed, and the town before 1950. Tap a photo to step through them full screen.

Church of St AndrewChurch of St AndrewGrade I listedDevonport ColumnDevonport ColumnGrade I listedRemains of Plymouth CastleRemains of Plymouth CastleGrade II listedInvicta HotelInvicta HotelGrade II listedTinside Lido and Changing RoomsTinside Lido and Changing RoomsGrade II listed+89See all photos

Photos from Wikimedia Commons and Geograph, copied to our own server, each credited to its photographer with its licence; names open the building’s page or its official list entry.

Through time

Plymouth from 1600 to 1925

An old map and 8 old photos and postcards, in date order. All public domain, made before 1950.

Detail of map of Plymouth, Devon circa 1600c. 1600
Old mapDetail of map of Plymouth, Devon circa 1600Public domain
Frith Plymouthc. 1860
VictorianFrith PlymouthPhoto: Francis Frith · Public domain
Picturesque Devon Autmn, Roborough Down, Nr Plymouth1903
EdwardianPicturesque Devon Autmn, Roborough Down, Nr PlymouthPhoto: Unknown photographer · Public domain
Picturesque Devon Autumn, Roborough Down, Nr. Plymouth1903
EdwardianPicturesque Devon Autumn, Roborough Down, Nr. PlymouthPhoto: Unknown photographer · Public domain
Picturesque Devon Bickleigh Vale, Nr Plymouth1903
EdwardianPicturesque Devon Bickleigh Vale, Nr PlymouthPhoto: Unknown photographer · Public domain
Plymouth Argyle 1903-04 Team Photoc. 1904
EdwardianPlymouth Argyle 1903-04 Team PhotoPhoto: Unknown photographer · Public domain
A. R. Quinton, Plymouth the Hoec. 1920
Between the warsA. R. Quinton, Plymouth the HoePhoto: Alfred Robert Quinton · Public domain
A. R. Quinton, Plymouth the Promenade Pier1925
Between the warsA. R. Quinton, Plymouth the Promenade PierPhoto: Alfred Robert Quinton · Public domain
Plymouth Corporation single deck buses at the Theatrec. 1925
Between the warsPlymouth Corporation single deck buses at the TheatrePhoto: Unknown photographer · Public domain

Public domain, from Wikimedia Commons, copied to our own server. Each credit opens the image’s page with its full description and history.

The map

Where Plymouth’s history is

Every Grade I and II* building, monument and historic park, over the age of each neighbourhood’s homes.

Civic Square, Plymouth, registered park or gardenDevonport Park, registered park or gardenFord Park Cemetery, registered park or gardenPlympton House, registered park or gardenSaltram House, registered park or gardenThe Hoe, registered park or gardenAgaton fort, scheduled monumentAnimal pound at The Pound, 620m south of Roborough House, scheduled monumentAustin Fort and section of military road, scheduled monumentBowden Battery, scheduled monumentBullpoint gunpowder magazines and camber, scheduled monumentCross in grounds of Stentaway House, Billacombe, scheduled monumentCrownhill Fort, scheduled monumentEastern King battery, scheduled monumentEggbuckland Keep, scheduled monumentErnesettle battery, scheduled monumentFirestone Bay artillery tower, scheduled monumentFort Stamford, scheduled monumentKnowle battery, scheduled monumentLaira Battery, scheduled monumentLaira Emplacement, immediately south west of Laira Battery, scheduled monumentLee Moor Tramway Bridge, scheduled monumentMount Batten: prehistoric and Romano-British settlement, scheduled monumentMount Pleasant Redoubt, scheduled monumentPlymouth Castle (remains of), scheduled monumentPlympton Castle, scheduled monumentPlympton Priory, scheduled monumentResolution Fort: Civil War town defences at Friary Court, scheduled monumentRound barrow on Burrow Hill, scheduled monumentSlip No 1 (The Covered Slip), South Yard, Devonport Dockyard, scheduled monumentStonehouse Town Wall, scheduled monumentThe Royal Citadel mid 17th century bastioned artillery defence, incorporating late 16th century artillery fort and 18th century statue, on the Hoe, scheduled monumentThe West Ropery (site of), South Yard, Devonport Dockyard, scheduled monumentWoodland fort, scheduled monumentWorth's Cattedown Bone Cave 150m north of Cattedown Wharves, scheduled monumentArmada Memorial, Grade II*Belmont House (Youth Hostel) Belmont Place, Grade II*Building 13 (Receipt and Issue Magazine), Rnad Bull Point, Grade II*Church of St Andrew, Stoke Damarel, Grade II*Church of St Aubyn Including Attached Walls and Walls to North and South, Grade II*Church of St Budeaux, Grade II*Church of St Edward King of the West Saxons, Grade II*Church of St Mary, Grade II*Church of St Mary Blessed Virgin, Grade II*Church of St Mary and All Saints, Grade II*Church of St Maurice, Grade II*Church of St Paul, Grade II*Covered Slip (S 180), Grade II*Custom House, Grade II*Devonport Dockyard: The Scrieve Board (S 162), Grade II*Devonport High School for Boys, Grade II*Dockyard Museum, Former Office (So 32), Grade II*Dockyard Wall Extending Approximately 300 Metres to South East Side, Royal William Victualling Yard, Grade II*Drake Statue, Grade II*Education Offices (Former Grammar School), Grade II*Eggbuckland Keep, Grade II*Elizabethan House Museum, Grade II*Elliot Terrace Numbers 1 to 8 Including 6A and Walls and Gate Piers, Grade II*Former Palace Theatre and Great Western Hotel, Grade II*Former Royal Naval Hospital Water Tower, Grade II*Former Royal Naval Hospital the Quadrangle Centre, Grade II*HMS Drake Wardroom, Officers Quarters and Mess, Grade II*Hooe Manor, Grade II*Kings Hill Gazebo (S 186), Grade II*Manadon House, Grade II*Morice Gate, Two Gatehouses (Mo 39 and 65) and Attached Dockyard Walls, Grade II*Mutley Baptist Church Including Spurgeon Hall and Caretakers Cottage, Grade II*No 1 Basin and No 1 Dock, including associated bollards and capstans, Grade II*No 2 Dock, including bollards and capstans, Grade II*No 3 Dock, including bollards and capstans, Grade II*No 4 Dock, including bollards and capstans, Grade II*North Smithery (So 23), Grade II*Nos. 17 and 18 New Street, Grade II*Number 1 and Attached Forecourt Wall and Railings, Grade II*Number 12 the Painted Canvas Store (Mo 46), Grade II*Number 16 Store the Powder House (Mo 42), Grade II*Number 2 Store and Former Furbishers Shop (Mo 68), Grade II*Number 4 Store (Mo 70), Grade II*Officers House Number 1 and Attached Walls and Railings, Royal William Victualling Yard, Grade II*Officers House Number 2 and Attached Walls and Railings, Royal William Victualling Yard, Grade II*Officers’ Terrace with attached office wing and basement area railings, Grade II*Old Custom House, Grade II*Railings, Piers and Gateway to Kings Hill Gazebo, Grade II*Rear Retaining Wall Extending Approximately 400 Metres, Royal William Victualling Yard, Grade II*Remains of Castle, Grade II*Royal Citadel Governor's House and Steps to Doorways, Grade II*Royal Citadel Great Store, Grade II*Royal Marine Barracks Archway Block, Grade II*Royal Marine Barracks East Barrack Block and Forecourt Railings, Grade II*Royal Marine Barracks North Barrack Block and Attached Basement Railings, Grade II*Royal Marine Barracks Officers Mess, Grade II*Royal Marine Barracks South Block and Attached Basement Railings, Grade II*Royal Marine Barracks South West Block and Attached Front Basement Railings, Grade II*Royal Marine Barracks the Longroom, Grade II*Sherwell Church and Associated Buildings Including Shelly Hall, Grade II*South Saw Mills (S 128, 148, 149, 150), Grade II*South Smithery (Building S126), Grade II*St Dunstans Abbey School and Attached Road Frontage Walls, Grade II*St Dunstans Abbey and Attached Road Frontage Walls, Grade II*St Michaels Lodge and Rear Basement Court Railings, Grade II*Steps Dwarf Walls Lamps and Retaining Wall to Gardens Fronting Officers Terrace, Grade II*Synagogue, Grade II*Tarred Yarn Store, Grade II*Tarring and Wheel House (S 136) and Tarred Yarn House (S 137), Grade II*The Distillery Public House, Former Coates Gin Distillery, Grade II*The Esplanade Numbers 1 to 8 and Forecourt Walls and Railings, Grade II*The Guildhall, Grade II*The Officers Terrace (Mo 63) and Attached Railings, Rear Walls and Outbuildings, Grade II*The Rectory, Grade II*The Retreat, Grade II*Tudor Lodge, Grade II*Walls and Bollards to Number 3 Basin, Grade II*Western Morning News, Grade II*White Yarn House (S 135), Grade II*33, St Andrews Street, Grade II*34, New Street, Grade II*36, Looe Street, Grade II*36, New Street, Grade II*Brewhouse, Royal William Victualling Yard, Grade ICharles Church, Grade IChurch of St Andrew, Grade IClarence Steps, South West Quay Wall and 2 Bollards, Royal William Victualling Yard, Grade IClarence Store, Royal William Victualling Yard, Grade IDevonport Column, Grade IDevonport Guildhall and Attached Walls, Grade IEast Ropery, Formerly Spinning House (S 132), And Attached Retaining Walls, Grade IMain Gate, Royal William Victualling Yard, Grade IMelville, Royal William Victualling Yard, Grade IMills and Bakery, Royal William Victualling Yard, Grade IOddfellows Hall, Grade IOld Cooperage, Royal William Victualling Yard, Grade IOld Newnham, Grade IPlymouth Naval War Memorial, Grade IPlympton House (St Peters Convent), Grade IPolice Buildings, Royal William Victualling Yard, Grade IPrysten House, Grade ISlaughterhouse and Attached Yard Wall, Royal William Victualling Yard, Grade IThe Quadrangle (N 173-177, 186-191, 203), Grade I
Grade IGrade II*Scheduled monumentPark or garden400 m from Brewhouse Royal William Victualling Yard
Homes built before 1919, by neighbourhoodunder 10%10–25%25–50%50%+
9 of 20Grade I buildings stand within 400 m of Brewhouse Royal William Victualling Yard, a five-minute walk. So do 24 of the 738 listed buildings.
38 of 168neighbourhoods have mostly pre-1919 homes; in the oldest, 92% were built before 1919.

Hover a dot for its name; tap one with a photo to open it.

738 listed buildings by grade
20 Grade I83 Grade II*635 Grade II

Historic England lists buildings in three grades: Grade I for buildings of exceptional interest (about 2.5% of all listed buildings), Grade II* for particularly important buildings of more than special interest (about 5.8%), and Grade II for buildings of special interest (about 91.7%). Listing protects the whole building, inside and out.

Every entry on the National Heritage List for England whose point lies inside the ONS 2022 built-up-area boundary. One list entry can cover a terrace or a group of buildings. Neighbourhood dots: the population-weighted centre of each Census 2021 output area, coloured by its neighbourhood’s (LSOA’s) share of homes built before 1919 (Valuation Office Agency, March 2025).

Grade I

The 20 Grade I listed buildings in Plymouth

Buildings of exceptional interest, about 2.5% of all listed buildings; 9 of these stand within 400 m of Brewhouse Royal William Victualling Yard. 18 are photographed. Each opens its own page, with the official list entry.

Memorials · listed 1975Plymouth Naval MemorialOn the list as Plymouth Naval War MemorialPhoto: tormentor4555 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Church · listed 1954Plymouth MinsterOn the list as Church of St AndrewPhoto: Nilfanion · CC BY-SA 3.0
Walls & gates · listed 1954Devonport GuildhallOn the list as Devonport Guildhall and Attached WallsPhoto: Smalljim · CC BY-SA 3.0
House · listed 1952Old NewnhamPhoto: Rev. John Swete · Public domain
Public · listed 1952Plympton HouseOn the list as Plympton House (St Peters Convent)Photo: Plym678 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Grade II*

The 83 Grade II* listed buildings in Plymouth

Particularly important buildings of more than special interest. 47 are photographed.

Walls & gates · listed 1954Church of St AubynOn the list as Church of St Aubyn Including Attached Walls and Walls to North and SouthPhoto: N Chadwick · CC BY-SA 2.0
Show the other 71
Public · listed 1974Palace TheatreOn the list as Former Palace Theatre and Great Western HotelPhoto: Smalljim · CC BY 3.0
Public · listed 1996Mutley Baptist ChurchOn the list as Mutley Baptist Church Including Spurgeon Hall and Caretakers CottagePhoto: Tony Atkin · CC BY-SA 2.0
Public · listed 1960Plympton CastleOn the list as Remains of CastlePhoto: Tony Atkin · CC BY-SA 2.0
Inns & shops · listed 1954Plymouth Gin DistilleryOn the list as The Distillery Public House, Former Coates Gin DistilleryPhoto: Smalljim · CC BY 3.0
Historic streets

Southside Street has the most listed buildings

Streets by the listed entries with an address on them. One entry can be a whole terrace, so long rows count once.

Southside Street15 listed
New Street13 listed · 2 II*
34, New Street36, New Street
Looe Street8 listed · 1 II*
36, Looe Street
Albemarle Villas7 listed
Underwood Road7 listed
Adelaide Street6 listed
Penlee Gardens6 listed
Windsor Villas6 listed
Vauxhall Street5 listed
Durnford Street4 listed
Molesworth Road4 listed
St Andrews Street4 listed · 1 II*
33, St Andrews Street

Of the 738 entries, 178 are named by a street address; the rest are named buildings such as churches, halls and bridges.

What’s protected

Most of Plymouth’s listed buildings are homes

Every listed building sorted by what its list name says it is.

Houses, terraces & villas396
Walls, gates & bridges150
Public & civic buildings73
Churches, chapels & priories44
Inns, shops & warehouses39
Street furniture24
Memorials, crosses & tombs12

396 entries (54%) are houses, terraces and villas. 44 are churches, chapels and priories, including 2 of the 20 Grade I buildings.

Buildings are sorted by words in each entry’s name (church, gate, inn, memorial…): the list’s open data has no building type. An entry named only by its address counts as a house.

Grade II

635 Grade II listed buildings

Most listed buildings are in this grade, which covers buildings of special interest. Open any building to read its official list entry.

The first 150 of 635 Grade II listed buildings, A to Z
(Mansion House) Boringdon TerraceAdmiralty HouseAgaton FarmhouseAll Saints VicarageArches at St Martins Gate SchoolArchway on Lockyer QuayBaptist ChurchBarbican GalleryBarn South East of Little Woodford FarmhouseBattershill HouseBeaumont HouseBelvedereBenhayBlake LodgeBlock One (Former Soldiers' Quarters) Bull Point BarracksBlock Two (Former Officers' Quarters) Bull Point Training CentreBlood Transfusion Centre and Attached Walls, Steps and Gate PiersBollards and Steps in Front of Numbers 23 and 24 (Number 23 Not Included)Boundary Stone at Junction with North RoadBowden FarmBrakeviewBrick HouseBrook House, Lambert Cottage and Stoke CottageBryon Villa Including Area Railings and Wall in FrontBuilding 124 (Mixing House), Rnad Bull PointBuilding 36 (Police Station), Rnad Bull PointBuilding 43, Rnad Bull PointBuilding 45 (Qf Ammunition Store), Rnad Bull PointBuilding 49Building 54 (Press House, Rnad Bull PointBuilding 55 (Tube and Fuze Store), Rnad Bull PointBuilding 57 (Wet Guncotton Store), Rnad Bull PointBuilding 59 (Examining Room), Rnad Bull PointBuilding 60 (Pattern and Class Room), Rnad Bull PointBuilding 63 (Empty Barrel and Case Store), Rnad Bull PointBuilding 65 (Shell Filling and Packing Workshop), Rnad Bull PointBuilding 69 (Breaking-Up House), Rnad Bull PointBurrow Farm (Including Kitchen Wing)Burrow LodgeCarlton HouseCaroline PlaceCastle Hayes CottageCastle HouseCedar LodgeCentral Block of Greenbank Prison (Formerly Longfield House)Chaddlewood HouseChapel HouseChapel Immediately North of Manadon HouseChristadelpian Hall Including Attached Garden Walls and Gate Piers at the FrontChurch of EmmanuelChurch of England Chapel at Ford Park CemeteryChurch of St GabrielChurch of St JohnChurch of St John the EvangelistChurch of St JudeChurch of St Luke City Library AnnexeChurch of St MaryChurch of St Matthias and Attached Forecourt WallsChurch of St PancrasChurch of St PeterChurch of St SimonChurch of the AscensionChurchyard Gate Piers to the North of Church of St AndrewChurchyard Wall and LychgateClareham Court and HyperionCleve VillaClock TowerClover CottageComposite Shipbuilding Shed (S 151)Corporation BuildingsCorporation BuildingsCorporation Buildings and Attached WallsCorporation Buildings and Attached WallsCott LodgeCouncil House and former Civic CentreCourtgates FarmhouseCow House Immediately East of Old NewnhamCressy CottageCrown and Column Public HouseDirection Stone in Wall at End of Cheltenham PlaceDispensaryDock Pumping Station (N 114 and 115)Dockyard Wall Extending from East of Ropery Complex to East of Number 1 SlipDownhorn FarmhouseDrakes Place Road Frontage Walls and RailingsDrakes Place: Reservoir Walls, Colonnade, Boundary Walls and Railings, Conduits, Drinking Fountain and FountainDuke of Cornwall Hotel and Attached Forecourt Walls and RailingsDuttons Cafe (Former Artillery Store/Magazine)Elburton CrossElmleighEnclosure Walls and Piers to Sw of Buildings 17, 25, 26 and 27, Rnad Bull PointEntrance Gate Piers East of Hooe ManorEntrance Lodge to Devonport High School for BoysEntrance Walls and Gate Piers to Nelson GardensErnesettle HouseFirestone Bay Sea Wall, Royal William Victualling YardFirestone Bay TowerFish MarketFlying Boat Hangars at Former RAF Mount BattenFord Park LodgeFormer Barclays Bank BuildingFormer Devonport LibraryFormer Devonport Market HouseFormer Dock Police Station and Custom Office at South East Entrance to Millbay DocksFormer Fire Station (So 32)Former Garden Wall Piers and Steps to Officers TerraceFormer Kitchen Garden Walls to Saltram HouseFormer Nonconformist ChapelFormer Royal Naval Hospital Boundary Wall to North West SideFormer Royal Naval Hospital Inner Gate Piers and GatesFormer Royal Naval Hospital Landing JettyFormer Royal Naval Hospital Main Gateway and Gate PiersFormer Royal Naval Hospital North Gateway and Store and Attached WallsFormer Royal Naval Hospital Octagonal Posting Box Immediately South of Pay OfficeFormer Royal Naval Hospital Pavilion North of Inner Gates (Pay Office)Former Royal Naval Hospital StablesFormer Royal Naval Hospital Sundial in Front and West of the Quadrangle CentreFormer Royal Naval Hospital the Church of the Good ShepherdFormer Royal Naval Hospital the Square Number 10 and Attached WallsFormer Royal Naval Hospital the Square Number 14 (Middleton Lodge) and WallFormer Royal Naval Hospital the Square Number 16 and Rear Courtyard WallFormer Royal Naval Hospital the Square Numbers 1, 2 and 3 and Area Walls and RailingsFormer Royal Naval Hospital the Square Numbers 11, 12 and 12A and Attached WallsFormer Royal Naval Hospital the Square Numbers 4 to 7 (Consecutive) and Walls and RailingsFormer Royal Naval Hospital, 17 The Square and attached wallFormer Royal Naval Hospital: 19 The SquareFormer Royal Naval Hospital: The Square Numbers 8 and 9 and Area Walls and RailingsFormer Warehouse, Now Marina SnookerFormer Western College (Original Block)Freedom HouseFurneaux Tomb Immediately North of Church of St AndrewFursdon BarnFursdon FarmhouseFurzehatt HouseGarden Boundary Wall to Number 103 the Lodge, North East Along Fore StreetGarden Wall Immediately West of Number 95Gate Piers Approximately 275 Metres South East of Manadon HouseGate Piers North East of North East Lodge (Lodge Not Included)Gate Piers South West of Belmont HouseGate Piers and Flanking Walls at Former Entrance to Powisland HouseGate Piers and Flanking Walls to South East EntranceGate Piers and Stile to Church of St Mary Blessed VirginGate Piers and Walls East of Church of St BudeauxGate Piers and Walls at Road Frontage to Number 33 Looseleigh HouseGate Piers at South End of StreetGate Piers on Opposite Side of Road to Hooe ManorGate Piers to West of Widey GrangeGate Piers, Walls and Attached Building to Devonport High School for BoysGate Piers, Walls and Railings East of Church of St MaryGate Piers, Walls and Railings West of Church of St Mary

Search the rest on Historic England’s list →

Conservation areas

16 conservation areas cover 7.8% of Plymouth

Areas the council protects as a whole: demolition and changes to how buildings look need consent, and trees are protected.

No data available for publication by HE173 ha
Stoke 198568 ha
Stonehouse Peninsula 196935 ha
The Hoe 197728 ha
Mannamead 197728 ha
Plymton St Maurice 196828 ha
Tamerton Foliot 197720 ha
Devonport 199919 ha
Barbican 196719 ha
City Centre 201918 ha
North Stonehouse 197714 ha
Millfields10 ha
Ebrington Street 20088 ha
Union Street 20015 ha
Turnchapel 19773 ha
Adelaide Street2 ha
477 hain conservation areas, of 6,142 ha inside the built-up area.

The first, Barbican, was designated in 1967; the newest, City Centre, in 2019. 449 of the 738 listed buildings stand in one.

Historic England’s conservation areas layer, supplied by councils (incomplete in places, so a page fact, never graded). Hectares are the part of each area inside the built-up area.

How the list grew

294 of Plymouth’s 738 listed buildings were added in 1975

The year each building now on the list was first listed.

1975 · 2941998 · 1691954 · 79
19501960197019801990200020102020

The first 9 entries were listed in 1952, 2 of the 20 Grade I buildings among them. 294 came in 1975, in the national resurvey of the 1970s and 80s. Only 12 have been added in the last 15 years.

Monuments & landscapes

Monuments, parks and gardens

Designations that overlap the town by a tenth of their area or half a hectare.

29 scheduled monuments

Nationally important archaeological sites and monuments, protected by law; work on them needs consent from the Secretary of State, advised by Historic England.

Agaton fort
Austin Fort and section of military road
Bowden Battery
Cross in grounds of Stentaway House, Billacombe
Crownhill Fort
Eastern King battery
Firestone Bay artillery tower
Fort Stamford
Knowle battery
Lee Moor Tramway Bridge
Mount Batten: prehistoric and Romano-British settlement
Mount Pleasant Redoubt
Plymouth Castle (remains of)
Plympton Castle
Round barrow on Burrow Hill
Slip No 1 (The Covered Slip), South Yard, Devonport Dockyard
The Royal Citadel mid 17th century bastioned artillery defence, incorporating late 16th century artillery fort and 18th century statue, on the Hoe
Woodland fort

6 registered parks and gardens

Devonport Park
Ford Park Cemetery
Saltram House
Saltram HouseGrade II*
The Hoe
The HoeGrade II
History Grade

Plymouth grades A− for history

Protected heritage and the age of the town’s homes, against all UK towns.

Protected heritage, for its size and in all (927 points, 35 per 10,000 residents)More than 73% of UK towns
Homes built before 1919 (23%)More than 70% of UK towns

Two measures, each ranked against every UK town of 1,000 or more, with protected heritage counting twice as much as the age of homes. Protected heritage counts each listed building by its grade (Grade I three points, II* two, II one), each scheduled monument and battlefield two, and each registered park or garden by its grade; it is ranked both per 10,000 residents and as a total, so a village with one fine church doesn’t outrank a historic city. The second measure is the share of homes built before 1919, from the Valuation Office Agency’s council tax records. History is a character grade: it describes the town and isn’t part of the overall grade.

Homes by age

23% of Plymouth’s homes were built before 1919

Every home by when it was built, from council tax records, against England & Wales (the dark tick).

18%
Before 1900
5.9%
1900–18
3.5%
1919–29
9.2%
1930s
11%
1945–54
8.3%
1955–64
11%
1965–72
10%
1973–82
7.9%
1983–92
3%
1993–99
5%
2000–08
3.7%
2009–15
4.7%
2016–25
PlymouthEngland & Wales

18% of homes are Victorian or older, against 16% across England and Wales. The busiest period since was 1945–54, which added 11% of today’s homes.

Valuation Office Agency, council tax stock of properties by build period, 31 March 2025, for the neighbourhoods (LSOAs) that make up the town, split by where their residents live. Homes with no recorded build period (10 here) are left out; 1939–44 is not a period in the data.

Born here

221 notable people born in Plymouth before 1900

The 20 best known on one timeline, earliest first.

John Hawkins
Joseph Glanvill
Joshua Reynolds
Tobias Furneaux
James Northcote
William Bligh
Benjamin Haydon
William Elford Leach
Charles Lock Eastlake
George Bentham
George Bennett
Mortimer Collins
William Henry White
John Chard
Alfred Wallis
Thomas Walker Arnold
Robert Falcon Scott
May Sutton
Donald Winnicott
Ralph Alger Bagnold
1500165018001950
Robert Falcon Scott
Robert Falcon Scott1868–1912 · Royal Navy officer and explorer (1868–1912)
Joshua Reynolds
Joshua Reynolds1723–1792 · English painter (1723–1792)
William Bligh
William Bligh1754–1817 · Officer of the British Royal Navy and colonial administrator (1754-18…
GB
George Bentham1800–1884 · British botanist (1800-1884)
John Hawkins
John Hawkins1532–1595 · English navigator, admiral, privateer and slave trader (1532-1595)
WL
William Elford Leach1790–1836 · English zoologist and marine biologist (1790/1–1836)
DW
Donald Winnicott1896–1971 · British pediatric psychiatrist and psychoanalyst (1896–1971)
Tobias Furneaux
Tobias Furneaux1735–1781 · Royal Navy officer and explorer (1735-1781)

Everyone born in Plymouth → Birthplaces from Wikidata; portraits from Wikimedia Commons.

Towns its size

Plymouth has the 8th most Grade I buildings of 32 towns its size

Places of 160,000–427,000 people outside London, by Grade I listed buildings.

Oxford197
Norwich63
Bristol50
Newcastle upon Tyne50
Belfast44
Peterborough33
Brighton and Hove22
Plymouth20
Coventry19
Southampton16
Northampton15
Cardiff14
#7 of 32for listed buildings per resident (28 per 10,000). Oxford, Norwich and Bristol lead.

Only Oxford, Norwich, Bristol, Newcastle upon Tyne, Belfast, Peterborough and Brighton and Hove have more. The typical town its size has 9.

Neighbours

Listed buildings in the places around Plymouth

TownPeopleListedGrade IHistory
Plymouth266,97073820A−
Torpoint7,163110C+
Sherford1,31140C−
Saltash15,433523B
Millbrook2,299150A−
Wembury1,82841C−
Yealmpton2,007270A−
Bere Alston2,25930C+
In brief

Plymouth in brief

The official list counts 738 listed buildings in Plymouth, 20 of them Grade I, including Plymouth Naval Memorial. Of its homes, 23% were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town. Brewhouse Royal William Victualling Yard sits at the heart of it all, with 9 of the town’s Grade I buildings within 400 m. Only 7 of the 32 towns nearest its size have more Grade I buildings.

On Southside Street alone there are 15 listed buildings. Its older streets lie in 16 conservation areas, the first designated in 1967. Of the whole list, 54% are houses, terraces and villas. Beyond that, per resident it sits near the middle of UK towns.

Questions about Plymouth’s history

How many listed buildings are there in Plymouth?

Historic England lists 738 buildings inside Plymouth’s built-up area: 20 Grade I, 83 Grade II* and 635 Grade II.

What are the Grade I listed buildings in Plymouth?

20, including Brewhouse, Royal William Victualling Yard, Charles Church, Church of St Andrew, Clarence Steps, South West Quay Wall and 2 Bollards, Royal William Victualling Yard, Clarence Store, Royal William Victualling Yard and Devonport Column.

Which street in Plymouth has the most listed buildings?

Southside Street (15), New Street (13) and Looe Street (8) have the most listed entries named by an address. One entry can be a whole terrace.

Are there scheduled monuments in Plymouth?

Yes, 29 scheduled monuments, including Agaton fort, Animal pound at The Pound, 620m south of Roborough House, Austin Fort and section of military road and Bowden Battery.

How many conservation areas are there in Plymouth?

16, covering about 477 hectares of the town. The largest are No data available for publication by HE and Stoke.

When were Plymouth’s buildings listed?

The first in 1952; the most, 294, in 1975.

Are there old photos of Plymouth?

Yes: 8 public-domain photos and postcards from 1860 to 1925, and an old map from 1600, all on this page.

Who was born in Plymouth?

Among people born before 1900: Robert Falcon Scott (1868), Joshua Reynolds (1723), William Bligh (1754), George Bentham (1800) and John Hawkins (1532).

How old are the homes in Plymouth?

23% of homes were built before 1919 and 36% before 1940, from the Valuation Office Agency’s council tax records (March 2025).

© Historic England 2026. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. The National Heritage List for England is the official, up-to-date register of all nationally protected historic buildings and sites in England; check an entry on Historic England’s website before relying on it.

Sources: Historic England, National Heritage List for England (listed buildings, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, battlefields, World Heritage Sites), October 2026, inside the ONS 2022 built-up-area boundary · Valuation Office Agency, Council Tax: stock of properties by build period (31 March 2025) · TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranked against UK towns only · Historic England conservation areas (supplied by local planning authorities; October 2026). All under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.