A Journey into the Past

This figure presides over the doorway of the church. As with many churches it has been extensively altered over the years and may well pre-date the current reconstruction. With at leasr one eye turned to heaven the expression looks severe. Perhaps a reminder of authority and the perils of hell and damnation, which were once very real fears for large sections of the population. The damaged arm may have resulted from puritan anger at the time of the English civil war. Royalist forces beseiged Plymoth which was held by a Parliamentary garrison. Some of the Royalist forces were billeted and encamped in the area where the church stands, under the command of Prince Maurice. The royalists were subseqently defeated at what would come to be known as the battle of Freedom Fields, one of the decisive moments in the Civil War.  The figure looks out over a public house named the Prince Maurice and an open area used for recreation. Today there was a Cider festival being held in and around the pub with live music. On the open space there was a Fete, also with music. I doubt the figure depicted in the statue would have approved of the resulting cacophany!