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so long the focus of Plympton's civic life, it is
centrally placed in Fore Street. There has been
a Guildhall here since the thirteenth century. The
date of the present building, 1688, can be seen
above the granite columns, with the arms of the
two most important families of the period, the Trebys
and the Trevors. The main hall was rebuilt in 1862,
but the pillared arcade and council chamber above
remain unchanged. Unfortunately, in 1979 the hall,
was re-roofed in asbestos tiles in spite of the
availability of old slates which would have been
in keeping with the roof of the council chamber.
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At one time the Guildhall was used as a court of
law. From 1692 the mayor was empowered to hold a
Civil Court every Monday here. There were two cells,
stocks, and there was a ducking stool by the moat.
Inside the present building hang a number of portraits
of local Councillors dating back to the seventeenth
century, and there are some old prints of the town.
In the council chamber upstairs, where Sir Joshua
Reynolds presided as mayor, there are two large
refectory tables. If you wish to look inside the
Guildhall, permission must be obtained from the
Civic Centre, Plymouth. |
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Based on:
© MILLS, Audrey F, 1981: Plympton St.
Maurice Guide, First Edition, Plympton St.
Maurice Civic Association
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