The history of Plympton goes back well over 1000 years, with the first recorded mention of the settlement being made in a land deed in 904AD. For much of its early history the town was more important than nearby Plymouth, being in important trading centre with ships sailing up the tidal River Plym. Plympton became a market town and a Stannary Town, and was an important centre for the transport of mined tin. Remaining as the most important settlement in the area until the 14th century, Plympton's importance diminished as the river silted up and trade moved downstream to Plymouth.
The old town of Plympton St. Maurice and the nearby villages and farming areas including Woodford, Colebrook and Chaddlewood gradually grew into one town, and in 1967 the town of Plympton was formally incorporated into the City of Plymouth. In recent years the town has experienced dramatic growth as a residential area and is set to expand even further in the coming years.
Plympton has its own shopping centre at the heart of the town, in the Ridgeway, and it is here that the church used to be located before its move in 1994. There is also another small shopping centre in Colebrook village. One of the most striking features of the town is the remains of the old Plympton Castle, first build around 900 years ago and later rebuilt before falling into ruins following the English Civil War. Many reminders of the town's history can still be found in St. Maurice, including the old Guildhall on Fore Street and the original Plympton Grammar School building - originally founded in 1658, the school still exists today on another site, as Hele's School.
The photo gallery below shows many of the major landmarks in Plympton. Click on the thumbnails to display a full-size picture.
