ocks. To this in 1853 was added Keyham
steamyard, situated higher up the Hamoaze beyond the old boundary and
connected with the Devonport yard by a tunnel. In 1896 further
extensions were begun at the Keyham yard, which became known as
Devonport North yard. Before these were begun the yard comprised two
basins, the northern one being 9 acres and the southern 7 acres in area,
and three docks, having floor-lengths of 295, 347 and 413 ft., together
with iron and brass foundries, machinery shops, engineer students' shop,
&c. The new extensions, opened by the Prince of Wales on the 21st of
February 1907, cover a total area of 118 acres lying to the northward in
front of the Naval Barracks, and involved the reclamation of 77 acres of
mudflats lying below high-water mark. The scheme presented three leading
features--a tidal basin, a group of three graving docks with entrance
lock, and a large enclosed basin with a coaling depot at the north end.
The tidal basin, close to the old Keyham north basin, is 740 ft. long
with a mean width of 590 ft., and has an area of 10 acres, the depth
being 32 ft. at low water of spring tides. It affords access to two
graving docks, one with a floor-length of 745 ft. and 20 1/2 ft. of water
over the sill, and the other with a length of 741 ft. and 32 ft. of
water over the sill. Each of these can be subdivided by means of an
intermediate caisson, and (when unoccupied) may serve as an entrance to
the closed basin. The lock which leads from the tidal to the closed
basin is 730 ft. long, and if necessary can be used as a dock. The
closed basin, out of which opens a third graving dock, 660 ft. long,
measures 1550 ft. by 1000 ft. and has an area of 35 1/2 acres, with a depth
of 32 ft. at low-water springs; it has a direct entrance from the
Hamoaze, closed by a caisson. The foundations of the walls are carried
down to the rock, which in some places lies covered with mud 100 ft. or
more below coping level. Compressed air is used to work the sliding
caissons which close the entrances of the docks and closed basin. A
ropery at Devonport produces half the hempen ropes used in the navy.

By the Reform Act of 1832 Devonport was erected into a parliamentary
borough including East Stonehouse and returning two members. The ground
on which it stands is for the most part the property of the St Aubyn
family (Barons St Levan), whose steward holds a court leet and a court
baron annually. The town is governed by a mayo