Family and Education

m. bef. Feb. 1369, Joan.

Offices Held

Biography

In 1367-8, when engaged on works at Rochester castle, Plomer, a plumber by trade, was paid £2 2s.1d. for supplying, casting and laying lead on the roof, as well as 30s. for 120 lb. of tin used to make solder for lead pipes, receiving in addition wages for his labour at the rate of 6d. a day for 36½ days. Two years later, he undertook for £5 to lay lead on the roof of the great tower of the castle, the material supplied being in part new and part re-used from the donjon itself and from an old cistern. The extensive works were still keeping him busy in 1380-2, when he earned 43s.4d. for his labour.1

In 1391 Plomer stood surety at the local elections for the appearance in Parliament of Thomas Dudmere, himself a contractor for works on Rochester bridge. More than 20 years earlier his wife, Joan, had inherited a number of properties in Dartford, which they had sold off piecemeal by various transactions between 1369 and 1388. (One of the purchasers, in 1375, had been the unpopular London merchant, Richard Lyons’.) In a final conveyance, completed at Easter 1397, the Plomers released a messuage and some 75 acres of land at Dartford and Stone to Richard Clitheroe I*.2

Plomer witnessed a deed at Rochester in February 1398, but died before 28 Jan. 1400, for it was as his widow that Joan, together with John Everard I*, then entered into recognizances in £10 3s.4d. with Maurice Burgh.3

Ref Volumes: 1386-1421

Author: L. S. Woodger

Notes

• 1. Arch. Cant. ii. 118-19; Hist. King’s Works ed. Brown, Colvin and Taylor, ii. 812-13.
• 2. C219/9/8; CP25(1)106/188/1762, 107/200/2066, 2074, 108/210/69, 109/232/602, 111/249/1044.
• 3. Harl. Ch. 46 A25; CCR, 1399-1402, p. 119.