A374 road
Encyclopedia
The A374 is a main road in the United Kingdom
, one of six A-roads
making the border crossing between Devon
and Cornwall
. It is the most southerly of the A37x group of roads, starting and ending its journey with the A38 trunk road
, from the outskirts of Plymouth
in Devon to the Trerulefoot
roundabout in Cornwall.
along a section of dual carriageway. At Prince Rock the A379
merges from Plymstock
and continues into the city. On the edge of the city centre it meets the Charles Cross roundabout, in the middle of which stands the preserved shell of the derelict Charles Church. Skirting the Plymouth city centre to the north, the A374 continues past the main buildings of the University of Plymouth
and is met by the A386 near Plymouth railway station
. Going westward down the locally notorious Union Street
, the road enters Devonport
and comes to the River Tamar
.
The A374 coninues on into Cornwall, across the river, via the vehicle carrying Torpoint Ferry
. Through the town of Torpoint
the road continues, following the River Lynher
, through the villages of Antony
and Sheviock
and on to Polbathic
, where the B3249 starts northwards to join the A38, avoiding a low bridge at Trerulefoot roundabout. The A374 climbs further through agricultural land, with the A387 joining from the west, and ends at Trerulefoot roundabout, re-joining the A38.
, just north of Donyatt
in Somerset
, southwards to Colyford
in Devon along the route of what is now the A358. Whereas the Plymouth-Torpoint-Trerulefoot road (current A374) was designated as part of the A389 road to Bodmin
in Cornwall at this time.
After the phases of road re-classification carried out in the 1920s and 1930s, the Trerulefoot-Torpoint-Marsh Mills stretch of road formed part of the A38, as the Torpoint Ferry was the main route across the River Tamar. After the Tamar Bridge
opened in 1961 the A38 was re-designated through Tideford
, on what was previously the route of the A374 and the current route of the A374 was numbered as such.
The current A374 also used to extend beyond Marsh Mills through Plympton
to its southwestern edge, taking the previous route of the A38 prior to the Plympton bypass. However this has now been downgraded to the B3416 and other unclassified roads within Plympton town centre.
The A374 from Torpoint to Trerulefoot is also a very highly prized road in the motorcycling fraternity. Known locally as the "Torpoint Twisties" it offers a challenge to all with its series of bends and straights. However it also causes controversy because of the number of accidents and fatalities which occur, meaning the road has been classed as a "red" status road by the local constabulary and is patrolled regularly and monitored by static speed cameras.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, one of six A-roads
A roads in Zone 3 of the Great Britain numbering scheme
List of A roads in zone 3 in Great Britain starting west of the A3 and south of the A4 .-Single- and double-digit roads:-Triple-digit roads:-Four-digit roads :-Four-digit roads :...
making the border crossing between Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
and Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. It is the most southerly of the A37x group of roads, starting and ending its journey with the A38 trunk road
A38 road
The A38, part of which is also known as the Devon Expressway, is a major A-class trunk road in England.The road runs from Bodmin in Cornwall to Mansfield in Nottinghamshire. It is long, making it one of the longest A-roads in England. It was formerly known as the Leeds — Exeter Trunk Road,...
, from the outskirts of Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
in Devon to the Trerulefoot
Trerulefoot
Trerulefoot is a village in southeast Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is located on the A38 trunk road approximately half-way between the towns of Saltash and Liskeard. Trerulefoot has a farm shop, two cafés and a petrol filling station....
roundabout in Cornwall.
Route
Starting at the Marsh Mills junction of the A38, the A374 heads west into Plymouth, following the course of the River PlymRiver Plym
The River Plym is a river in Devon, England. Its source is some 450m above sea level on Dartmoor, in an upland marshy area called Plym Head. From the upper reaches which contain antiquities and mining remains the river flows roughly southwest and enters the sea near to the city of Plymouth, where...
along a section of dual carriageway. At Prince Rock the A379
A379 road
The A379 is a road in the English county of Devon. It links points on the edges of that county's two principal cities, Exeter and Plymouth, by an indirect and largely coastal route....
merges from Plymstock
Plymstock
Plymstock is a civil parish and commuter suburb of Plymouth in the English county of Devon.The earliest surviving documentary reference to the place is as Plemestocha in the Domesday Book and its name is derived from Old English meaning either "outlying farm with a plum-tree" or, if it is short for...
and continues into the city. On the edge of the city centre it meets the Charles Cross roundabout, in the middle of which stands the preserved shell of the derelict Charles Church. Skirting the Plymouth city centre to the north, the A374 continues past the main buildings of the University of Plymouth
University of Plymouth
Plymouth University is the largest university in the South West of England, with over 30,000 students and is 9th largest in the United Kingdom by total number of students . It has almost 3,000 staff...
and is met by the A386 near Plymouth railway station
Plymouth railway station
Plymouth railway station serves the city of Plymouth, Devon, England. It is situated on the northern edge of the city centre close to the North Cross roundabout...
. Going westward down the locally notorious Union Street
Union Street, Plymouth
Union Street in Plymouth, Devon, is a long straight street connecting the city centre to Devonport, the site of Plymouth's naval base and docks...
, the road enters Devonport
Devonport, Devon
Devonport, formerly named Plymouth Dock or just Dock, is a district of Plymouth in the English county of Devon, although it was, at one time, the more important settlement. It became a county borough in 1889...
and comes to the River Tamar
River Tamar
The Tamar is a river in South West England, that forms most of the border between Devon and Cornwall . It is one of several British rivers whose ancient name is assumed to be derived from a prehistoric river word apparently meaning "dark flowing" and which it shares with the River Thames.The...
.
Torpoint Ferry
The Torpoint Ferry is a car and pedestrian chain ferry, connecting the A374 road which crosses the Hamoaze, a stretch of water at the mouth of the River Tamar, between Devonport in Plymouth and Torpoint in Cornwall...
. Through the town of Torpoint
Torpoint
Torpoint is a civil parish and town on the Rame Peninsula in southeast Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated opposite the city of Plymouth across the Hamoaze which is the tidal estuary of the River Tamar....
the road continues, following the River Lynher
River Lynher
The River Lynher flows through east Cornwall, UK, passing St Germans and enters the River Tamar at the Hamoaze, which in turn flows into Plymouth Sound.-Geography:...
, through the villages of Antony
Antony, Cornwall
Antony is a coastal civil parish and a village in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom.The village is situated on the Rame Peninsula about three miles west of Torpoint and has a shop, a pub and a garage....
and Sheviock
Sheviock
Sheviock is a coastal civil parish and a hamlet in south-east Cornwall, United Kingdom. The parish is two miles south of St Germans and three miles south-west of Saltash....
and on to Polbathic
Polbathic
Polbathic is a village within the parish of St Germans in south-east Cornwall, England, United Kingdom.The Polbathic Community Hall houses a snooker club and is the rehearsal venue for the famous Polbathic Players who perform their own scripted pantomime each year on the Thursday, Friday and...
, where the B3249 starts northwards to join the A38, avoiding a low bridge at Trerulefoot roundabout. The A374 climbs further through agricultural land, with the A387 joining from the west, and ends at Trerulefoot roundabout, re-joining the A38.
History
The original road designated as the A374, as of 1922, ran from Horton CrossHorton, Somerset
Horton is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated north of Chard in the South Somerset district. The village has a population of 788.-History:...
, just north of Donyatt
Donyatt
Donyatt is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated at the source of the River Isle north of Chard in the South Somerset district...
in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, southwards to Colyford
Colyford
Colyford is a village in East Devon, England. It is adjacent to the town of Colyton to the north and lies within its civil parish boundaries.-Features:...
in Devon along the route of what is now the A358. Whereas the Plymouth-Torpoint-Trerulefoot road (current A374) was designated as part of the A389 road to Bodmin
Bodmin
Bodmin is a civil parish and major town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated in the centre of the county southwest of Bodmin Moor.The extent of the civil parish corresponds fairly closely to that of the town so is mostly urban in character...
in Cornwall at this time.
After the phases of road re-classification carried out in the 1920s and 1930s, the Trerulefoot-Torpoint-Marsh Mills stretch of road formed part of the A38, as the Torpoint Ferry was the main route across the River Tamar. After the Tamar Bridge
Tamar Bridge
The Tamar Bridge is a major road bridge at Saltash in southwest England carrying traffic between Cornwall and Devon. When it opened in 1961 it was the longest suspension bridge in the United Kingdom...
opened in 1961 the A38 was re-designated through Tideford
Tideford
Tideford is a small village in east Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is twinned with Plouguerneau in Brittany, France.Its name derives from its location on the River Tiddy, literally meaning "Ford on the River Tiddy". Tideford is not listed in the Domesday Book but the earliest settlement is...
, on what was previously the route of the A374 and the current route of the A374 was numbered as such.
The current A374 also used to extend beyond Marsh Mills through Plympton
Plympton
Plympton, or Plympton Maurice or Plympton St Maurice or Plympton St Mary or Plympton Erle, in south-western Devon, England is an ancient stannary town: an important trading centre in the past for locally mined tin, and a former seaport...
to its southwestern edge, taking the previous route of the A38 prior to the Plympton bypass. However this has now been downgraded to the B3416 and other unclassified roads within Plympton town centre.
The A374 from Torpoint to Trerulefoot is also a very highly prized road in the motorcycling fraternity. Known locally as the "Torpoint Twisties" it offers a challenge to all with its series of bends and straights. However it also causes controversy because of the number of accidents and fatalities which occur, meaning the road has been classed as a "red" status road by the local constabulary and is patrolled regularly and monitored by static speed cameras.