Transcript

of

Exeter

In: Notes on Slips Connected to Devonshire, Part VII,
Trans. Devon. Assoc., 1884, Vol XVI, pp. 609-610.

by

W. Pengelly, FRS, FGS, etc.

Prepared by Michael Steer

The Cathedral Church of Saint Peter in Exeter, is the seat of the Bishop of Exeter, The present building was complete by about 1400, and has several notable features, including an early set of misericords, an astronomical clock and the longest uninterrupted vaulted ceiling in England. It dates from 1050, when the seat of the bishop of Devon and Cornwall was transferred from Crediton because of a fear of sea-raids. A Saxon minster already existing within the town (and dedicated to Saint Mary and Saint Peter) was used by Leofric as his seat, but services were often held out of doors, close to the site of the present cathedral building. In 1107 William Warelwast was appointed to the see, and this was the catalyst for the building of a new cathedral in the Norman style. Its official foundation was in 1133, during Warelwast's time, but it took many more years to complete. The article, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.

“The erection of the existing cathedral building was not commenced until the year 1112. Bishop William Warlewast was its originator, and it received successive additions by subsequent bishops of Exeter during no less than seven reigns, being completed by Bishop Bothe, in the year 1478 and in the reign of Edward the Fourth." (p. 164.)

The ordinary reader would, no doubt, be led by the foregoing quotation to slip into the belief that Warlewast's cathedral was still essentially intact, but had been added to from time to time. The actual facts, however, will probably be more accurately set forth by the following extracts from the gifted pen of the late Mr. K. J. King, whose competency as the historian of the cathedral no one will question. In the 8th ed. (1872) of Murray's Handbook for Travellers in Devon and Cornwall, he says "A new cathedral was commenced by Bp. Warlewast . . . (1107-1136), and was completed by Bp. Marshall (1194-1206). In 1136 it was much injured by fire, during Stephen's siege of the Castle. The portions which remain of this Norman building are the transeptal towers, and perhaps some courses of masonry on the N. side of the nave between the N. tower and the N. porch. . . . Bp. Walter Bronescombe (1258-1280) commenced a series of new works, which led to the gradual removal of the Norman Cathedral and to the erection of the present structure. Part of the Lady chapel was built during his time; but his successor, Peter Quivil (1280-1291), seems to have furnished plans for the entire building, which were followed with but little variation by his successors. Bp. Quivil himself constructed (or completed the construction of) the transepts out of Warlewast's Norm, towers and completed the Lady chapel. Bp. Bytton (1292-1307) began the work of the choir and completed the 3 western bays. His successor, Bp. Stapledon (1307-1326), constructed the remaining 4 bays. Bp. Grandisson (1327-1369) completed the navev Bp. Brantyngham (1369-1394) probably added the western screen, with its porches and sculpture." (pp. 13-14) . . . "The episcopal throne . . . was no doubt the work of Bp. Stapledon . . . though it has been generally assigned to Bp. Bothe - more than a century. later." (p. 21.)