| |
More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
|
Exeter
|
|
|
(105,000 in 1991)
City on the river Exe; administrative centre of the county of Devon. From pre-Roman times it was of importance as the lowest point at which the river could be crossed and therefore as the gateway to the southwest tip of England. By the 13C sea-going vessels from the English Channel could no longer come this far up the river, but an exceptionally early canal, still surviving, was constructed from 1563 to link the city with the estuary.
|
|
|
|
|
Exeter was the centre of a diocese in late Anglo-Saxon times and a Norman cathedral was begun soon after the *Conquest. Two Norman towers survive, surmounting in an unusual fashion the two ends of the transept. Between them there was built in the 13–14C the nave and choir of the present cathedral, an exceptionally consistent example of the Decorated style with a splendid west façade. The Exeter Book, in the cathedral library, is an important collection of Old English poems, compiled in about 940 and given by Leofric, who in 1050 became Exeter's first bishop.
|
|
|
|
|
The Guildhall (dating from 1330, considerably rebuilt in the 15C and with a pillared exterior of the 16C) remains in use after nearly seven centuries. The Royal Albert Memorial Museum, by John Hayward (1808–91), was built 1865–6 as a civic museum, art gallery and library. Its collection is strong in lace, English ceramics and silver.
|
|
|
|