PLYMPTON CASTLE

Devon

Plympton Castle, Devon

The town of Plympton pre-dates Plymouth by many years.  The Castle was initially constructed around the year 1100 by Richard de Redvers, Earl of Devon.  His son, Baldwin, joined Queen Matilda's side during the Anarchy and King Stephen captured the Castle in 1136 and supposedly razed it to the ground.

If this is the case then the current large motte and shell keep (and other odds and ends of masonry) belong to a period after Henry II's accession to the Throne when Baldwin de Redvers received his lands back again.  The Castle passed to the inevitable Courtenays (see Powderham, Tiverton, Bickleigh and Okehampton) in 1293.  They had little interest in the Castle and allowed it to decay.

It stands today in a public park and was the subject of part of a "Time Team" excavation in 1998.

Back to Castles of Devon

Back to Castles of Devon Page

© Text copyright - Raving Loony Productions, Andrew J. Müller and Roy Barton
© Photos and Artwork - Andrew J. Müller and Roy Barton
© Web Design and Layout - Andrew J. Müller
2001

Go to Home PagespaceGo to Andrew J. MullerspaceGo to Roy BartonspaceGo to Shaun RunhamspaceGo to Writing
Go to Castles of the UK and IrelandspaceGo to Castles of EuropespaceGo to Churches, Cathedrals, Abbeys etc.spaceGo to Travel PagesspaceGo to The Gallery