XXVI 



Edward Polwliele, vicar of St. Stephens by Saltasli, to the church 

 of that parish — a large building possessing some points of archi- 

 tectural interest, and a few curious monuments. The edifice 

 appears to comprise remains of an original cruciform building of 

 the Norman period, as shown in the two lower stages of the 

 tower (situated at the north transept), in a south transept arch, 

 and in a blocked south door to the nave. The rest of the building 

 is of subsequent periods. The parish register is said to be one 

 of the eai-liest in England ; it commences with the 1st of January, 

 1545,* and its earliest entries appear to have been copied from a 

 former register. It is still in its original binding. It records 

 that in 1549, the year of Arundel's Eebellion, a serious epidemic 

 prevailed; the deaths rising monthly, from 7 in April to 71 iu 

 July, and falling to in November. 



Trematon Castle was next visited ; the party being conducted 

 by Admiral Tucker over all the remains of this interesting relic 

 of the Earldom of Cornwall. Its present appearance is very un- 

 like that represented in Lysons' print only fifty years ago. Then 

 the whole mound on which the Keep stands was quite bare, now 

 it is ornamented with trees on all sides, planted by the father of 

 the present occupier of the modern residence, whilst a flower 

 garden adorns the only level portion of the ground adjoining the 

 Keep. The Gate-Tower was the first part visited. This remains 

 to the present day as it was originally built, with a few most 

 trifling alterations, i.e., in the roof, the AvindoAvs, and fireplaces. 

 All substantial parts are unaltered since the beginning of the 

 14th century, the period to which the ornaments of the chimney- 

 pieces very clearly assign it. Lysons cites a survey of the Duchy 

 in 1337 which describes "a hall, kitchen, and lodging-chamber, 

 built by Edmund, Earl of Cornwall, and an ancient chapel ivithm 

 the gate." Assuming, therefore, that this gate-tower is the one 

 there referred to, it was probably erected by Edward III, between 

 the date of his resumption of the castle into the hands of the 

 Crown in 1275, and 1337, the date of the survey. The building 

 consists of a double arched gateway of ample size for a carriage 

 entrance, guarded by a portcullis both within and without, a 

 porter's lodge below, and two stories above, approached by a new- 

 elled stair entering from the wall which connects the gate with 

 the keep above. Each story contains only one room, with fire- 

 places of the same date; there it is believed the prisoners 

 arrested within the Honor of Trematon were kept. The shafts 



* The Gerrans parish register begins in 1539, the first year of registra- 

 tion, under Henry "VIII ; that of St. Michael PenkiYel begins iu 1647. 



