Union-street, so called from its being the connecting link between the towns, is unquestionably a fine thoroughfare, although it has very little to boast of, as regards architectural style, or regularity of building. […] when it is remembered that the street has been of rapid growth, and that 60 years ago the site of Union-street was a marsh, some little allowance may be made for its present condition. However, things are improving rapidly, and the style of building has shewn [sic] an upward tendency during the past few years.

Here is a picture of this thoroughfare in 1812, which will give us a fair idea of the progress of the town since that period. Under the heading "Road from Plymouth to Dock," (now Devonport), the writer says:-

"We cannot help observing that this road is one of the greatest defects in the present state of this neighbourhood. It is scarcely credible, but it is nevertheless true, that between two such towns, where there is a perpetual passage of carriages, horses, and foot passengers, there is a road of 16 feet in width only in many places, and through the town of Stonehouse not so wide. It is only wonderful that so few accidents happen in it; for one should think it scarcely possible to prevent frequent injury in so narrow a pass; as it is at present, it is not only inconveniently narrow, but constantly out of repair, being apparently repaired with very bad materials, and those badly laid together, as is commonly the case in this part of the kingdom. Nothing less than a road 40 feet in width, with a convenient footpath on each side, can answer the purpose of a thoroughfare and communication between Plymouth and Dock, and if such sums can be expended in embellishing the town and procuring places of amusement, it must be obvious, that an improvement, where utility, nay necessity, calls aloud for it, ought to be first attended to."*

* "Picture of Plymouth," publishe [sic] by Reed and Curtis, 1812.

[Text may be taken from a different source or edition than that listed as the source by Somers Cocks.]