One of Plymouth’s most important public spaces has been given a fresh look to revive some of its post war heritage features.
The Civic Square is a Grade II listed park and garden and over the last year has been getting a makeover to showcase existing heritage features and reinstate paving patterns that were part of its original design.
The project is part of Plymouth’s High Street Heritage Action Zone, a partnership between Historic England and the Council and the scheme is almost complete, with the stunning new granite tessellated paving – following the original the Bow Tie paving patterns – now covering the ground.
Other elements completed include:
- Restoring mid-century features, such as the pool copings, back to the original concrete
- Repairing existing as well as installing new copings around the garden islands
- Ornamental planting and improved grass within the landscaped islands
- Two new trees
- Widening the path next to the Council House car park
- New lighting
- More parking spaces created on Princess Street and Guildhall car park
- Docking for Beryl e-bikes.
Why did we do this?
Civic Square is a Grade II registered park and garden and is important to Plymouth’s heritage. It was designed by Geoffrey Jellicoe, one of the country’s greatest landscape gardeners of his time. He designed this public square as part of the civic layout of Plymouth planned by the city architect H J W Stirling and based on Abercrombie and Paton Watson's post-war plan for Plymouth of 1943.
The square (formerly called the Great Square) was first envisaged by Stirling as a large public square between the Guildhall (restored and re-opened in 1959) and the Civic Centre by Jellicoe, Ballantyne & Coleridge (1957-62). According to Jellicoe, his plan for the Great Square called for 'dignity and frivolity', and 'a civic amenity to be enjoyed by townspeople at all times’.
As well as preserving its 20th century credentials, the project meets 21st century needs with a mobility hub and more space for cycling and walking.
Who is paying?
The scheme costs £3.02m including £2,009,047 from the Transforming Cities Fund and £1,014,824 High Street Heritage Action Zone.
How long will the work take?
The work started last March (2023) and is almost finished. The few outstanding features include new seating, finger posts for the cycle route, a ramp as well as cycle stands. These are expected to be installed soon.