Laira/ˈlɛərə/ – previously recorded asLare (1591),[1]Lary poynte (1638), theLeerie (1643), and theLairy (1802) – was originally the name given to that part of the estuary of theRiver Plym from theCattewater up to Marsh Mills inPlymouth, Devon, England. The name may derive from aBrythonic word corresponding to theWelshllaeru, meaning 'to ebb'.[2]
TheA379 road and the disusedPlymouth to Yealmpton railway line cross the estuary just above the Plymouth suburb ofCattedown by two bridges both known asLaira Bridge.
The name Laira now also refers to the area of Plymouth surrounding theLaira Traction Maintenance Depot. Much of the housing here was built around 1900 for employees of the depot. There is a memorial plaque to the men of Laira who died in theGreat War along Old Laira Road. Also situated on Old Laira Road is the old Police / Fire Station which is currently used as a library. Laira Green Primary school is situated in the area, as well as a disused United Reformed Church.
| Lairy Embankment (Plymouth) Act 1802 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
.svg) | |
| Long title | An act to enable his Majesty to grant certain Parcels of Land, situate between Great Prince Rock and the Village of Crab Tree, called Tothill Bay, and Lipson Bay, near to the Borough of Plymouth in the County of Devon, to certain Persons therein named, for the Purpose of embanking and preferring the same from the Sea. |
| Citation | 42 Geo. 3. c. 32 |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 24 March 1802 |
Until the beginning of the 19th century, Old Laira Road had constituted the northern shore of Lipson Lake (or Bay), an extensive tidal inlet on the western side of the estuary. This area – on which the railway depot andLipson Co-operative Academy now stand – was reclaimed from the estuary and drained, together with Tothill Bay on the south side of higher ground at Mount Gould, upon the completion in 1802 of anembankment along the whole western shore of the Laira.[3] A new road, laid along this embankment shortly afterwards, from Laira Green to Prince Rock, soon became the main highway into Plymouth fromPlympton,Exeter, and beyond, avoiding the often steep and narrow way via Old Laira Road andLipson – even though the new route was to remain atoll road until 1924.
