For centuries, Plympton St Maurice has held a festival on its ancient castle green. This year is no exception, and the three-day Plympton Midsummer Festival will be held from the 20th to 22nd June
In Saxon times, Plympton St Maurice was a thriving town and Plymouth was barely a cluster of cottages. Now the tables have turned, and whilst Plymouth has grown beyond all recognition, Plympton St Maurice has stopped in time. The quaint conservation village is complete with a siege mound and castle and its illustrious history, from a Saxon town to a busy silver assaying centre in the 17th century is still obvious in the higgledy-piggledy houses and glorious gardens. The small village is able to boast lovely architecture, famous painters, doctors, inventors, vicars and MP’s who have gone on to make a huge mark on the nation. This summer there’s the chance to enjoy the village, peek behind its ancient façade and go back in time enjoying some real community fun at the Plympton Midsummer Festival.
The Festival begins on June 20th with a musical evening held at the 16th century Guildhall where the Sir Joshua Reynolds choir will be performing ‘Desert Island Songs’ (tickets £7 on door and refreshments available). On Saturday there’s lots of family entertainment held in the shadow of the castle. Each year thousands enjoy the roast lamb, the side shows, music, tug o’war, games and many other activities. Reverend Jack Russell would approve of the dog show. A St Maurice man, he went on to breed and give his name to the famous terrier.
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Once the setting for bloody battles, visitors can now enjoy a roast lamb roll while watching Historia Normannis, an historical re-enactment group fight it out on the Castle Green. Other family fun includes fun races for children, performances by the Susan Jane School of Dancing and the Plympton Judo Club, while the Yelverton Bowmen will demonstrate their archery skills,
There will be an opportunity to support many charities who will be selling all sorts of goodies. Other stalls include clothes, jewellery, yummy food and more, so there’s plenty to see and do for all ages.
Famous people from times past, too many to list here, contributed to St Maurice’ history. They would have seen ‘Jingling Match Grinning, Bobbing and Diving’ and other merriment at early fayres on the Castle Green.
One early resident was John Sparke. He explored the Spanish Main and was the first to describe potatoes and tobacco. He’d have been impressed by the gardens in his village – as others are today. Each year the ‘Hidden Gardens’ of St Maurice draw over 1,000 people to see the very heart of the conservation area and the creative and loving works of gardeners whose houses are some of the oldest in the County.
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Visitors can explore allotments in the castle moat, see original Saxon ‘strip gardens’ admire beautiful and unusual gardens of every shape and size hidden behind ancient cottages or Georgian town houses. Children can enjoy a frog hunt.
During the Midsummer Festival, local artists from the Sir Joshua Reynolds Art group will display their creations at the Guildhall, following the footsteps of bygone world-renowned artists from the village – not least Sir Joshua Reynolds.
Enjoy a cup of tea, watch the Morris dancers and for just a minute glimpse bygone days and enjoy the richness of one of the county’s finest villages.
Hidden Gardens tickets (children free) on sale £5 from 2pm at Guildhall or corner of George Lane and Longcause.
Midsummer Festival details can be found at www.plymptonstmaurice.com
