PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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In 1337 Prince Edward of Woodstock, eldest son of HM King Edward III, was created Duke of Cornwall, a title ever since bestowed upon the heir to the Throne. With that title came the rights over the Honour of Trematon, which included the River Tamar, the Hamoaze, Plymouth Sound and Sutton Pool. In 1348 Edward of Woodstock, the Black Prince, landed at Plymouth upon returning from France. He dined with the Prior of Plympton. It should be borne in mind that Plymouth was not constituted a Borough until 1439 and thus the Prior of Plympton was the most important person in the Plymouth area for entertaining Royalty. Indeed, at that time it was supposedly possible to sail right up the Cattewater and river Plym to the Priory so it is possible that the Prince did not land at Plymouth at all but direct at the Priory gate. Edward, the Black Prince was back in Plympton again on August 8th 1355, when he start to plan the next expedition to France. On September 4th 1355 he was based in Plymouth awaiting fair weather to set sail. It was during this period that he granted the rights of the ferry at Saltash to one of his followers in consideration of his services and disfigurement caused in battle. The Battle of Poitiers took place on September 19th 1356 during which the Prince, along with his 12,000 men, defeated the French army of some 60,000 men and took prisoner both the King of France and his youngest son. They, along with many French noblemen, were brought back to Plymouth early in 1357. They moved on to Exeter, where they were entertained by the Mayor of Exeter for three days, and arrived in London on May 24th 1357. The Black Prince's final visit to Plymouth was in January 1371, when he again landed from France. But he was in poor health and on his way overland to London once again rested at Exeter, where he and his wife were entertained by the Mayor. He died in London on June 8th 1376. Source:
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