Today's thread will be my last one for a while about Exeter. It's about some of the historic houses & buildings that line the city's streets that survived despite the passage of time, bombing & redevelopment etc. Starting with Tiddy House, on Tudor Street. #tudortuesday 1/6
There is some uncertainty when Tiddy House was built, but it is likely to have been built by Isaac Burche the Elder, a maltster in the 1630s or early by Thomas Tuberville, Bailiff of Exeter, what ever its date it is a great survival of yesteryear. 2/6
On the front are 17C decorate slate tiles and 3 coats of arms of families that have a history with the house. The 4-storey building is supported by its timber frame construction. For a period until 1994 it became a restaurant, but now it is back to being a private residence. 3/6
Another building that caught my eye with slate tiles (reproductions) is 1 & 2 Catherine Street, currently a shoe shop. Probably C15 in date. I didn't see but apparently many interna features survive incl. original screens, fireplaces, garderobes & late C16 painted decoration 4/6
The last structure I'll highlight is the guildhall's portico built in the 1590s. 4 granite columns support the rest of the Beerstone structure. The whole cost £791 6s 7d, not an insignificant sum. I've not been inside, but info can be found here. exeter.gov.uk/media/1027/gui… 5/6
There are MANY great buildings and structures to look at and explore in Exeter from houses, almshouses, churches, fortifications, medieval tunnels (for water pipes) etc etc. I hope you've enjoyed reading the threads for last few days looking a some aspects of historic Exeter.5/5
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One of my favourite castles is Carreg Cennen in Carmarthenshire. It's a rugged ruin perched on top of a 90m cliff, overlooking the river Cennen. Underneath the castle is a cave (torch needed). Whenever I've been, it's not been busy so great for exploring. 1/10
The 1st stone castle was probably built late C12 for The Lord Rhys (ruler of the Welsh kingdom of Deheubarth). From mid C13 it was regularly attacked passing from English to Welsh, between Welsh nobles & back again. Image, effigy of Lord Rhys, but 100 years after his death. 2/10
In 1462, towards the end of the War of Roses, it was taken by Yorkist forces. A force of around 500 men went to Carreg Cennen armed with ‘bars, picks, & crowbars…breaking and throwing down the walls’ ending the castle’s life, but thankfully leaving enough for us to explore! 3/10
Exeter's origins and significance is tied with the River Exe which, in part, is where it got part of its name. In the very early 12C, Nicholas Gervase a merchant and his son, Walter, fundraised & organised the building of the first stone bridge across the river. 1/7
The bridge had 17 or 18 arches, which spanned a total distance of around 180m. The road which was 4.2m between the parapet walls (fairly wide for a medieval bridge) was originally paved with flagstones and had guttering that emptied into the river. 2/7
Despite the bridge being essentially being of one build (although there were some repairs), there is a mixture of pointed & rounded arches normally associated with different periods. Either side of the arch piles, cutwaters were constructed to help to reduce water resistance. 3/7
St Pancras Church is one of my favourites in Exeter is not because of it being an architectural marvel, but simply because of its location; being a near constant in time despite being surrounded by a shopping centre.
As you can see from the maps, the site has changed somewhat since the 1900s. For a while church was surrounded by a carpark & houses, but in the 1970s the Guildhall shopping centre was built around it. Built in local red Heavitree stone, the church is an architectural survivor.
The first mention of the church is in 1191, but it is likely to be a much older foundation. This idea is supported by the dedication as well as a description of a Saxon doorway, which alas was lost when the chancel was rebuilt in the late 19C.
A 3rd & final (for now) thread on Exeter Cathedral. The present building was started in the early 12C. Whilst much of this phase has been rebuilt, the 2 towers giving the building its distinctive shape remain. 1/5 (Threads 1 & 2)
The towers with their Romanesque architectural style haven't entirely remained constant in their 900-year history, for instance, the North tower had a small spire in the 17C as seen in this engraving in the Exeter cathedral archives. 2/5
From the 1270s a rebuilding project meant that much of the cathedral was replaced in the Decorated Gothic Style. The pillars were built of Purbeck Marble from Dorset, with its blueish hue. The rest of the carved masonry is largely Beer Limestone, quarried about 20 miles away.3/5
Carrying on from yesterday's thread, here is a few more things to keep your eye out for when you visit Exeter Cathedral, such as the 3-arched pulpitum, completed in 1324. It was built as a barrier and to limit the view of the choir and east end of the church. 1/6
For the cat lovers there is a door in the N transept/tower which has a round hole in to allow a cat to roam around as a nemesis to rats and mice. Obviously, there wasn't an endless supply as in the 15C a penny a week was provided to feed the cat. #CatsOnTwitter 2/6
The astronomical clock, made in 1484, has the sun (Fleur-de-lis) & moon (an orb that changes between silver & black with the lunar phase) revolving around the earth (central gold orb). The Roman Numerals are the hours of the day, the Arabic numbers are days of the lunar month.3/6