Plympton in the Olden Time, by James Hine, F.R.I.B.A. 3 01 
the first architect ever returned to the House of Commons. There 
have been several since then, and their presence in parliament has 
no doubt tended to advance public taste, and to further many 
great and important national works. 
The Guildhall was built or rather restored in 1696, some 
years after Sir Christopher Wren represented the town, and 
it may be safely asserted that he had no hand in designing 
the present elevation, because, quaint and picturesque though 
it is, his style is nowhere stamped on it. It is however said 
(with what truth I cannot say) that he was the architect of 
Plympton House, a large and substantial mansion, with a fa9ade 
of Portland stone, erected in the reign of Queen Anne for Mr. 
Commissioner Ourry, of Plymouth Dockyard. It is a plain but 
costly building, in the then newly adopted style, with a certain 
French character about it. The large and broad barred sash 
windows, with their weights and pulleys, which were novelties at 
that time, must have greatly puzzled Snug the joiner of Plympton, 
who had been accustomed all his days to the old English casements. 
The Guildhall has more of the mediaeval character about it, 
with its pillars and arches and covered way, like the Chester Rows, 
and probably it was intended to have some resemblance to the 
Guildhall in the county town, a humble but by no means 
unsuccessful imitation. Thus we follow suit in buildings as in 
everything else, though the architecture of our towns would no 
doubt be more entertaining if we oftener aimed at originality, and 
played a card of our own occasionally.* 
* Over the Guildhall are the arms, carved in stone, of Sir Thomas Trevor, Knight, 
and Sir George Treby, Knight. Members of the Treby family were often connected with 
the corporation of the borough. In 1755 the parishioners at a vestry then held passed a 
resolution concerning the ringing of the church bells, "George Treby, Esq., and the 
other gentlemen belonging to the corporation," being respectfully included in the said 
resolution. 
"Agreed on Easter Monday, March the 31st day, 1755, by us whose names are here- 
nnto subscribed, being the Parishioners then present at the Vestry then held. That 
only five persons shall, and are by the authority of the said Vestry allowed to ring the 
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