Clan Rising
Plymouth Castle today

England · Partial ruin

Plymouth Castle

Plymouth Castle was a small quadrangular town castle built in the early 15th century to defend the harbour at Sutton/Plymouth. By the late 16th century it had lost military importance and was largely demolished over the following centuries; only a short fragment, thought to be part of the outer gatehouse called the South Port, survives in the Barbican area.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1542

Today

Partial ruin

As it stood in 1542

What Plymouth Castle looked like in its prime.

A compact quadrangular stone castle with a round tower at each of the four corners, linked by thick rubble-stone curtain walls. Constructed of local grey Devon rubble, the curtain walls are relatively low and solid, with an identifiable outer gatehouse (the South Port) featuring a central semicircular turret projection. The castle stands on a rocky rise at the head of the quayside above Sutton Pool, with cobbled approaches and tight streets leading up to the gate.

Its story

The story of Plymouth Castle.

Plymouth Castle was built in the early 15th century to defend the town and harbour of Plymouth. No finance seems to have come from the Crown; instead Edmund Lacey, Bishop of Exeter, granted indulgences to those who contributed towards the cost.

It was never the seat of a powerful baron or a royal constable like a traditional castle. Command rested with the town's mayor, and its defence lay with the aldermen, each of the town's four wards was responsible for one of the quadrangular castle's four towers.

By the end of the 16th century the castle had ceased to have any military function, and it fell into disrepair, almost completely demolished by the 19th century. Only a small fragment survives in the Barbican area, thought to be part of an outer gatehouse called the South Port.

Step inside

5 places to explore in 1542.

The record describes 5 distinct spots at Plymouth Castle, including 1 interior: south port gate passage (through gatehouse). Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach from Lambhay Street and steps to the quaysideSouth Port outer gatehouse (exterior)South Port gate passage (through gatehouse)Corner tower (typical round tower)View from Sutton Pool / harbour up to the castle

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Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Plymouth Castle.

HMNB Devonport, EnglandMilitary baseHMNB Devonport4 km awayEddystone Lighthouse, EnglandLighthouseEddystone Lighthouse23 km awayBuckfast Abbey, EnglandMonasteryBuckfast Abbey29 km away

Questions about Plymouth Castle

What is the history of Plymouth Castle?

Plymouth Castle was built in the early 15th century to defend the town and harbour of Plymouth. After a French raid in 1403, its defences took the form of a quadrangular castle with four towers. It sheltered the town’s officials during the Prayer Book Rebellion in 1549, but lost its military function by the end of the 16th century.

What is inside Plymouth Castle?

Inside Plymouth Castle, the documented feature is the South Port gate passage through the gatehouse. The surviving remains are thought to form part of this outer gatehouse, rather than a complete set of rooms or apartments. The passage is in the Barbican area, at the head of stairs leading down to the Mayflower Steps.

Why was Plymouth Castle built, and what was it used for?

Plymouth Castle was built to defend the town and harbour of Plymouth. Its quadrangular form provided four towers for the town’s four wards, with the mayor commanding the castle and the aldermen responsible for its defence. It later served as a refuge, prison and workhouse before becoming a source of building material for the expanding town.

Where is Plymouth Castle?

Plymouth Castle is in the City of Plymouth, in England. It stands in the Barbican area, at Lambhay Street, above the quayside and Sutton Pool. The surviving section is at the head of stairs leading down to the Mayflower Steps.

When was Plymouth Castle built?

Plymouth Castle was built in the early 15th century. The exact construction date is uncertain, but Henry IV ordered further fortification of the town after a French raid in August 1403. The castle was already standing by 1542, when John Leland described it as a strong quadrangular castle with four round corner towers.

Was Plymouth Castle ever attacked or besieged?

Plymouth Castle was involved in the siege of Plymouth in 1643, when Royalist forces besieged the town during the English Civil War. The castle was made ready for defence, but saw no action. It had also been manned in preparation for the Spanish Armada in 1588, although no attack on the castle is recorded then.

What did Plymouth Castle look like in its prime?

In its prime, Plymouth Castle was a compact quadrangular stone castle with a round tower at each corner. Thick rubble-stone curtain walls linked the towers, and the relatively low, solid walls were built from local grey Devon rubble. The outer gatehouse, called the South Port, had a central semicircular turret projection and stood above Sutton Pool.

Is Plymouth Castle still standing, or is it a ruin?

Plymouth Castle is a partial ruin, with only a small fragment surviving in the Barbican area. The castle fell into disrepair after losing its military function and was almost completely demolished by the 19th century. The surviving section is a short length of thick rubble wall about 3 metres high, with a central semicircular projection from the former South Port gatehouse.

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