274 JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
former days must have been. With the fall of the Castle in 
Stephen’s reign it lost all its glory and power; it fell never to 
rise again, and with very small exceptions nothing is left to us 
now but the earthworks of the English. 
Plympton Castle is an antient monument of the greatest value, 
and in a wonderful state of preservation. Its perfect state is due 
to two causes—first, the absence (at all events for a considerable 
period) of any stone or materials of value which might be of use 
either to the lord of the manor, or to those to be found in every 
neighbourhood who are always on the look-out for anything that 
may be obtained, especially without cost, and worked into a build- 
ing in course of erection ; and secondly, the fact of its having been 
for centuries the village green, in the use and enjoyment of which 
the inhabitants have, since the demolition of the Castle, acquired 
aright now undisputed. The battle of the public was fought for 
it by the corporation in former times, when an attempt was made 
either to enclose it or to exercise rights over it which interfered 
with those of the public. The paths on the top of the banks used 
to be, and probably still are, repaired by the waywardens out of 
the rates. The seats there were erected by public subscription, 
and the fine trees which now adorn the Castle were planted by the 
Treby family to beautify the spot. The history of the old town 
would furnish many an interesting episode with which the Castle 
is connected, and if it was for these associations only, and as a 
place of recreation, it must be jealously guarded; but beyond 
these, as I have endeavoured to point out, its value as an antient 
monument is still greater, and although under the care of the 
present noble earl, the lord of the manor, it is probably as safe as 
any place can be, something that will ensure its permanent pro- 
tection and preservation is required, and the provisions of the bill 
of Sir John Lubbock, when passed, should be here applied, as well 
as to those other interesting remains which we are fortunate enough 
to have in our county. 
