Efford
Encyclopedia
Efford is a large mostly post-war suburb of Plymouth
in the county of Devon
, England.
It stands on high ground above the Laira
estuary of the River Plym
and variously offers views over long distances: to the north across Dartmoor
the east across the South Hams
of Devon and also to the south. It has a core of home owners but is predominantly made up of local authority
and housing association
properties.
Historically the area around Efford had military importance. Efford Fort (at 50°23′26"N 4°5′32"W) was one of the ring of Victorian Palmerston's Follies built to provide defence from risk of French invasion. The area was also heavily occupied by the American army during the preparations for D-Day. This is remembered by the naming of a part of Efford, where an estate of American-supplied prefab houses was built from 1945 onwards, as Little America. Streets there were given names such as California Gardens, Oregon Way etc. These names were retained when the estate was demolished and replaced by modern houses in the 1970s.
One theory of the origin of the Name 'Efford' is that it originally comes from the part of this suburb that slopes down towards the river Plym (which is now partly reclaimed and built on land); before much of the river silted up, ships could Ford here when the river was at the Ebb tide; so it was the Ebbing or Ebb-Ford. Over time, by the natural processes of pronunciation change, the 'b's disappeared and it became Efford. Before this land was built on, it was known as 'The Wilds of Efford', which was largely unspoilt countryside and marsh land.
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 the county of 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...
, England.
It stands on high ground above the Laira
Laira
Originally Laira was the name given to that part of the Plym estuary from the Cattewater up to Marsh Mills, Plymouth. It is also a name used to refer to the area of Plymouth situated around the Laira Traction Maintenance Depot. Much of the housing in the area was build around 1900 for employees of...
estuary of the River Plym
River 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...
and variously offers views over long distances: to the north across Dartmoor
Dartmoor
Dartmoor is an area of moorland in south Devon, England. Protected by National Park status, it covers .The granite upland dates from the Carboniferous period of geological history. The moorland is capped with many exposed granite hilltops known as tors, providing habitats for Dartmoor wildlife. The...
the east across the South Hams
South Hams
South Hams is a local government district on the south coast of Devon, England with its headquarters in the town of Totnes. It contains the towns of Dartmouth, Kingsbridge, Ivybridge, Salcombe — the largest of which is Ivybridge with a population of 16,056....
of Devon and also to the south. It has a core of home owners but is predominantly made up of local authority
Council house
A council house, otherwise known as a local authority house, is a form of public or social housing. The term is used primarily in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Council houses were built and operated by local councils to supply uncrowded, well-built homes on secure tenancies at...
and housing association
Housing association
Housing associations in the United Kingdom are independent not-for-profit bodies that provide low-cost "social housing" for people in housing need. Any trading surplus is used to maintain existing homes and to help finance new ones...
properties.
Historically the area around Efford had military importance. Efford Fort (at 50°23′26"N 4°5′32"W) was one of the ring of Victorian Palmerston's Follies built to provide defence from risk of French invasion. The area was also heavily occupied by the American army during the preparations for D-Day. This is remembered by the naming of a part of Efford, where an estate of American-supplied prefab houses was built from 1945 onwards, as Little America. Streets there were given names such as California Gardens, Oregon Way etc. These names were retained when the estate was demolished and replaced by modern houses in the 1970s.
One theory of the origin of the Name 'Efford' is that it originally comes from the part of this suburb that slopes down towards the river Plym (which is now partly reclaimed and built on land); before much of the river silted up, ships could Ford here when the river was at the Ebb tide; so it was the Ebbing or Ebb-Ford. Over time, by the natural processes of pronunciation change, the 'b's disappeared and it became Efford. Before this land was built on, it was known as 'The Wilds of Efford', which was largely unspoilt countryside and marsh land.