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Just over the road towards Exe Bridges the Christian Centre used to be the King's Halls. It became a cinema and then a series of night clubs and rock venues. The Police (supporting Albertos Y los trios Paranoias) and the Stranglers played here in the early eighties when the place was known as Roots. The Jolt (supporting The Motors) also played here in the early eighties. They were quite well named because their lead received an electric shock from the mike and the show was postponed until the following night.

At other times between various mysterious unexplained fires, it has been known as Zhivago's, The Riverside and The Power House. For a while after it closed as a nightspot, it had a brief career as an indoor paint-ball centre.

Seven Stars

The Seven Stars used to stand close to this site, it later became Howards Commercial Hotel. The pub name though has survived in Alphington Road opposite the entrance to Marsh Barton Industrial Estate. The original pub was one of 16 Devon pubs displaying the emblem of St John Nepomuk, martyred in the River Vltava by King Wencelas.
The pub was also famous for putting on plays.

The directories suggest that a brewery at the end of Okehampton Street existed in 1878 (W), run by William & William Mortimore (father and son) at 41 Okehampton Terrace and 15 Swan Yard. The Swan was an old inn that fronted onto Cowick Street.

By 1923, Carr and Quick Ltd ran the brewery, named as the West of England Brewery at 8 Okehampton Street. The company were mainly engaged in bottling and later had premises in Queen Street, so it is likely that brewing ceased when this company took over the brewery.

The development of the twin Exe Bridges and traffic scheme prompted the clearing of many of the buildings that stood at the end of Cowick Street and Alphington Street in 1960/61/62. An article in the Express & Echo at the time described this demolition as the biggest carried out since the blitz. The first bridge was opened in 1973.

Next stop is The Kings  just before you get to St. Thomas bridge, this place used to stand alone and was known as the Kings Arms. The road widening scheme in early 1960 lost the pub it's forecourt. It was renamed The Kings in the late 90's after extensive refurbishment.

Over the road is St Thomas Railway Station, the upper sections of which were demolished in 1971. Several bars and bar / restaurants have occupied the lower levels since including Platform 1, Fergies and The Station. The building became The Imperial China Restaurant and Bar  in November 2004. Nip in here for a pint.

The South Devon Railway was carried on a single track over Brunel's Viaduct until it was widened in 1861. This building formed the station and offices.

Sainsburys once occupied the site of the Riverside Retail Park and opened in March 1986, closing in November 1998. A public library was built at around the same time (1985). The leisure centre was also built around this time as a joint venture between the council and the developers (Rush and Tompkins), it was originally known as The Plaza. The building was taken on by the city council after the developers went bankrupt. The building has always had its problems, be it leaking pools or admission charges. It re-opened in late 2000 after a facelift and re-design of the pool area, and is now known as the Riverside Leisure Centre. The site was once the home of Wadham Stringer but earlier still between 1560 and 1624,it was the home of the Birdall Bell Foundry.
The original version was opened in July 1986 by Princess Diana, Princess of Wales and cost 7.5m GBP.
The new retail park was opened in July 2000.

The Pizza restaurant was originally built without a kitchen and therefore opened a little later. Imagine opening a pub without a bar. Priceless!

Having supped up, pass under the bridge and cross through the Shopping Centre to the Longbrooke, formerly the Valiant and Valiant Soldier. You'll find plenty to do in here. Darts and pool etc. Stabbings* and severe beatings have recently become a speciality, but these generally take place outside. (* 2002)

You'll notice that Cowick Street is fairly straight as far as the Health Centre. The street follows the path of a Roman Road. The word Cowick is probably derived from the Anglo Saxon "Coic" which means "convergence of routes". Ancient pathways converged here to cross the Exe.

On the Cowick Street side of Cowick Street Motors is an arch, the Gateway of Sherriff's Ward. The Sheriff's ward or The Devon County Prison for Debtors was built in 1818, only the entrance now remains. The year 1853 saw the debtors moved to the County Gaol and the building became a storehouse for the Devon Militia, hence the name, Valiant Soldier a former name for The Longbrooke.

The storehouse was demolished in the 1970's, but by then the building was a tennement block. In 1892, the Militia had left the site and the building was turned into artisans dwellings. 1909 saw all but a wing of the former prison demolished to make way for the Wesleyan Church. The remainder was converted into the tennements mentioned above.

In 1939, Wippels took over a factory at the northern end of the old prison yard where an original and older prison will have stood, John Holts currently use the Wesleyan Church to sell carpets and furniture. The pop ups give more detail.