ALTERATIONS ROUND PLYMOUTH. 
325 
the fall of the ocean after its very great elevation, 
there seems in modern centuries to have been a 
gradual retreat occasioned by the two causes above 
named. 
One instance deserves especial record ; by turn¬ 
ing to the map of Charles lst’s time, the distance to 
which the Lara extends up, is seen to be consider¬ 
able. The Church of Plympton St. Mary is there 
shewn to be on its south-eastern side, and perhaps 
at the distance of less then a mile from it. The 
Lara noiv extends up no further than Long Bridge, 
(or would reach that far if not restrained by an em¬ 
bankment) which is situated to the west of the 
Church at the distance of more than a mile and 
half. The stream from thence onward to the Church 
is very small, but the ground generally in the 
neighbourhood is swampy, and it is not a little 
strange that such a site should have been selected 
for such a fabric. The intervening streets between 
Plymouth and Stonehouse were a space in former 
years occupied by an ample creek, wherein vessels 
rode at anchor as our maps shew, and in fact, very 
lately in excavating, anchors have been dug up from 
that spot, and the original debris or mud of the 
creek encountered. The creek it is said was still 
employed in this w r ay no longer than 100 years ago.* 
I here quote from a judicious compiler, certain 
additional facts corroborative of my own argument. 
“ From ancient records (Palkian MSS.) it appears 
u that an arm of the sea extended to the very walls 
“ of Exeter ; and the place where vessels lay at 
“ anchor for the loading and unloading of all kinds 
“ of merchandize, is still called the Water Gate. 
* There are certain small spots of the Town and its vicinity 
not included in the Borough , and not rateable, which is explained 
by the fact of the Borough having been defined prior to the retreat 
or exclusion of the sea towards its present site and boundaries. 
