Plympton Pathfields, Siege Mound

Plympton Pathfields Preservation Group have submitted the siege mound discovered in the grounds of St. Peters Convent on George Lane for protected Ancient Monument status with English Heritage.  During Time Teams visit to Plympton in 1998, Stewart Ainsworth identified a possible attack mound preserved in the gardens of Plympton House about 200 metres from the Norman motte and bailey castle.  Previously thought to be a Victorian 'prospect mound' for admiring the local views, the mound stands 40 metres high and 40 metres in diameter. 

In February 2000, the Pathfields group called in Dr. John Salvatore from English Heritage to inspect the mound.  Plymouth City Archaeologist Mike Daniels accompanied Dr. Salvatore and they both agreed that the mound bore all the likely hallmarks of a medieval siege mound.  It is known that two sieges of Plympton Castle took place, one in 1136 during the rebellion by Baldwin de Redvers against King Stephen and in 1224 when Henry III took back a number of castles occupied by mercenaries formerly employed by his father King John (of Magna Carta fame).

The first siege involved 200 knights and archers being dispatched from Exeter, but it seems likely that the castle surrendered before an actual   siege took place - though the attackers appear to have caused local damage and stole livestock.  The 1224 siege involved the use of 3 siege engines and lasted for over 2 weeks.  The mound could have been thrown up to act as a defensive position and to launch an attack.  The Castle bailey can be easily observed from the top of the mound even today and would have served as a strategic lookout into the castle while controlling the main route of the nearby Ridgeway.  Eventually the garrison agreed to surrender with a safe passage and were effectively 'bought off' by the attacking force.

The Pathfields Group are undertaking research into the mound and the circumstances of the siege.  Already we know who was involved and how local rivalry played an important part.  We know that behind the incident was a hated figure called Faulkes de Breauté, a mercenary brought over from Normandy by King John to quell opposition to his rule.  Faulkes took over Bedford Castle as his main stronghold when King John died in 1216 and also married into a prominent Devon family who laid claim to the castle at Plympton and other estates.  A somewhat opportunist and scheming person, Faulkes lost Bedford Castle resulting in 80 of his knights being hung while he slipped back over the Channel leaving his wife and young son.  The local hero who reclaimed Plympton Castle and probably threw up the mound was Robert de Courtenay.  He had family ties with Faulkes' wife and believed that the Devon estates including the Castle should ultimately belong to him.  He must have been only too pleased to volunteer his services to get rid of Faulkes on behalf of King Henry, particularly when the costs of the siege were borne by the tenant farmers belonging to Faulkes de Breauté.

The Pathfields Group have compiled a short report on the siege mound for submission to English Heritage.  Please contact the Group for any further information. pathfields@hotmail.com