Simon Puttock is a purely fictional character that has been brought to life by the medieval crime writer Michael Jecks and over a series of books he ventures through much of medieval Dartmoor. Simon Puttock arrived on the Dartmoor scene in March 1995 where he appeared in the novel called - The Last Templar. This is how he is first introduced:

"Simon Puttock felt elated, but not without a certain trepidation, as he meandered along the road that lead from Tiverton to Crediton, letting his horse take him at a slow walk he thought of his new position.

He had worked for the de Courtnays for many years now, as had his father before him, and he supposed that he should have expected a promotion - but he had not. It had been completely unexpected, as sudden shock; if they had told him he was to be imprisoned for robbery, it could not have surprised him more. Naturally he hoped that his lords were satisfied with his work over the years, but he had never dreamed of being given his own castle to command, especially one so important as Lydford, and every now and again a quick smile cracked the serious expression on his face as his glee momentarily flared, quenching his nervous contemplation".

The year is 1312 and at this time Lydford and Dartmoor had reverted to the crown and accordingly King Edward II appointed one Thomas le Ercedekne as, "constable of the castle of Lydford and custos of the manor of Dartmoor". By now both Lydford Castle and 'Lydford Law' had become established and the very mention of the place struck fear into mens hearts. So this is the period when Simon Puttock becomes the bailiff of Lydford Castle and has to assume the many responsibilities that the job entails.

We have the name but what of the man, Puttock was in his late twenties, he was tall and muscular with dark brown hair and a ruddy outdoors complexion. Thanks to family friends in the church he was taught to read and write at an early age which for bailiff was an extraordinary ability. In most of his adventures Simon had a man servant in tow, his name was Hugh and could only be described as, "a lean, morose, dark haired man with the narrow, sharp features of a ferret". Puttock's wife was called Margret and she was a good six years his younger, the couple had a six year old daughter named Edith.

10/09/2007