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This commemorative plaque declares that...
The Castle and Grounds were on the 5th day of February 1917
conveyed by SYDNEY SIMMONS J.P. to Trustees upon Trust
to permit the same to be thereafter ever enjoyed by the inhabitants
of and visitors to the town of Okehampton subject to certain conditions.
During the years 1911 - 1913, excavation and preservation was carried out
on this castle by the owner SYDNEY SIMMONS J.P. assisted by
H. GEEN J.P. and J. FUGLER, Alderman. The Town Clerk at this time
was J.J. Newcombe.
This tablet also commemorates the 50 years service between 1917 and 1967
to the Okehampton Castle Trust of JOHN JEHU NEWCOMBE, Freeman of
the Borough of Okehampton, at the end of whose term of office this Castle
and Grounds were placed in the care of the Ministry of Public Building
&
Works on the 10th day of November 1967.
The Chapel
This was the private chapel of the household. As befitted a leading
nobleman
it would have been richly decorated with stained glass windows, an
ornately
carved, painted and gilded screen and floor tiles stamped with
heraldic motifs.
The walls were plastered and painted with red lines to look like regular
stonework. Faint remains can still be seen above and to the side of
the
window to the right. More elaborate zig-zag patterns remain within
the window recess.
The door to the right of the window led to the vestry and then the
Priest's House. Beyond the window is the piscina where the holy
vessels
were washed. If you look closely the signature of a Napoleonic
prisoner of war can be seen.
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