Stairway to Devon undergoes upgrade

28th November 2024

An iconic staircase beside the water in Plymouth is to undergo a renovation over the winter months.

The award-winning* 'Stairway to Devon' Devil's Point staircase at Royal William Yard is about to be the focus of a major renovation project over the next three months to make it fit for the future. The impressive 63-step structure will be removed entirely from the Plymouth peninsula to be repaired by specialists. The project is set to be completed in February 2025.

Known as the Western King steps and dubbed the ‘Stairway to Devon’, the flight of steps connects Royal William Yard to Devil’s Point along the South West Coast Path, climbing a 12-metre high defensive wall and punching through the 1-metre thick limestone fortification to form a link for the National Trail. Manufactured on site and opening 11 years ago, the metal structure has started to experience the effects of being in a marine environment, which has made cosmetic repair work necessary.

Urban Splash – the regeneration specialist and developer of Royal William Yard – has worked with Natural England and the South West Coast Path Association to commence the restoration project. Work started this week and the staircase will travel to Falmouth to be blast cleaned, repaired and repainted over the coming months.

While this work takes place, there will be a diversion route in place to safely navigate the South West Coast Path. Devil’s Point and Royal William Yard will both remain open and will welcome walkers, but while the staircase is out of action, a detour along Admiralty Road is required. There will be signs in place to show the new route.

Tom Lowry, Development Manager at Urban Splash, said: “Our award-winning staircase has been open for more than a decade and has welcomed countless visitors – this project will ensure this captivating piece of architecture is fit to welcome many more for years to come. The staircase is an important part of Royal William Yard and the South West Coast Path, so we are keen to restore it and protect it for the future.”

Julian Gray, Director, South West Coast Path Association, said: “The Stairway to Devon is dedicated to Eric Wallace, a previous Chair of the charity, reflecting the importance of this iconic structure on the South West Coast Path connecting Royal William Yard to Devil’s Point.”

Story of the staircase

Royal William Yard had always been a cul-de-sac due to its peninsula sea defence location and nature of its role as a Naval site. Urban Splash worked with the Friends of Devil’s Point Park, the South West Coast Path Association and Plymouth City Council on the project to create the link. Designed by Devon-based Gillespie Yunnie Architects and funded by Natural England, the staircase opened in June 2013.

Projecting from the top of the wall, the cantilever steel staircase takes walkers down to shore level in Royal William Yard – boasting incredible views from top to bottom. The staircase is a solid, contemporary architectural design set against the historic retaining wall of the Grade I listed site. It has a concealed glass viewing platform overlooking the Tamar Estuary across to Mount Edgcumbe in Cornwall. The steel girders of its structure are lit at night by coloured LEDs, which illuminate the structure and bathe it in changing colours, making it all the more striking.

A dramatic piece of architecture unlike anything else in the area, the stairs were intentionally designed to mimic the excitement of journeying along the Coast Path. The journey is different depending on your approach; from Royal William Yard the stairs are an imposing sight, contrasting with the historic wall behind. From the cliff above, the journey starts with the steel ‘portal’ cut through the stone, offering panoramic views across the local area.

Coastal connection

The staircase was created to open up the South West Coastal Path and create a connection between the two equally important cultural entities. It filled a gap in the coastal route and brought visitors around the Stonehouse peninsula for the first time. This route now delivers walkers from the elevated Coastal Path at Devil’s Point, down into the historic Royal William Yard to explore the site via boardwalks along the water’s edge and marina.

The South West Coast Path Association, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, is based in Plymouth’s Royal William Yard, which is an integral part of the legendary walking route. At 630 miles, the South West Coast Path is the UK’s longest National Trail. This world-class trail starts at Minehead, Somerset, wraps its way around the South West coastline, and finishes at Poole, Dorset.