Smyrna times., 1933-11-01
CATHEDRAL is
800 YEARS OLD
Is At Exeter, Ancient Capital
of England and an
Saxon Site
IMPRESSIVE LANDMARK

ital of England'S southwest, and
county town of Devon, is celebrat-
ing the eight hundredth anniversary
Of the conservation of its famous
cathedral.
Even older than the cathedral is
the Bishopric of Devon and Corn
wall. which was transferred to Exc
ter by Edward l in 1850" says a
bulletin from the National Geo
graphic society. THE building Of
the cathedral was begun sixty years
later under William the Conqueror.
The site chosen had been twice oc-
cuPied by Saxon churches, the first
built by Athelstan, the second by
Canute.
"All that remains today Of the
original Norman structure are two
low massive towers at either end of
the transept. The rest of the cathe-
dral was completely rebuilt during
the Fourteenth century in the rich
style of Decorated Gothic.
Walter de Stapeldon, bishop of
Exeter, and one of the foremost
patrons of English art and letters
during the early Fourteenth century,
had a large share in this trans
formation. 1t was Stapeldon also
who in 1914 founded Exeter col
lege, Oxford; and in 1882, Exeter
grammar school
Impressive Edifice.
Upon entering the cathedral one
receives the impression of great
length and remarkable symmetry of
design. Each part is balanced; and
the long, low effect increased by an
unbroken roofline extending through
nave and choir. On the wall of the
north transept is great clock
which has licked since the days of
Edward II in the Fourteenth CEN
fury. 1t has two dials, one show
ing the hours and the moons
phases, the other recording the min
utes. In the library is the ancient
Codex Exoniensus, a Ninth century
collection of Anglo-SaxOn poetry,
which has been In the possession
of the cathedral since the Eleventh /
century.
"All the history and loyal, indie
pendent spirit of the west county
is concentrated in Exeter, Queen /
Elizabeth's ever faithful city, AS
a Roman town. Isca Damnoniorum,
1t is little younger than Paris and I
as old as London. When the Rom
ans left 1t in the Fifth century It /
became the Caer Isc of the Brit /
ons and the Exancestre Of the Sax
ons.
During succeeding centuries 1t
endured countless sieges; Saxons,
Britons, Danes, and Normans fought
to enter the walls. Later the loyal
townsmen staunchly upheld their
king In many a revolt. Exeter still
remembers the time that Edward
the Confessor spent Christmas
there; and the day when William of
Orange entered the gates in state.
Modern Exeter occupies a broad
ridge of land on the left bank OF
the River Exc. At the head of this
ridge, hidden by ivy and set in
a wide shaded park, are the ruins
of Rougemont castle, built by Will
liam the Conqueror.
MoPs Coffee House.
Marrow, stone-paved streets wind
between ancient timbered houses,
crumbling chapels, and fine old
churches. Exeter is a veritable city
of churches. In the time of Will
liam the ConQueror she possessed
no less than twenty-nine! Across
the square from the cathedral
stands Mol's coffee house, favorite
meeting place of those gay adven-
turers of Devon-Drake, Hawkins,
Gilbert and Raleigh.
1.-THE Guildhall with its overhang-
ing facade, is said to be the oldest
municipal building in Great Britain.
Here the wealthy merchants of the
city transacted their business in the
time OF Queen Elizabeth, when Elk
eter was noted for the manufacture
of woolens. 1t was also during
Elizabeth's reign that the Exeter
ship canal was built-the first canal
in England to permit sea-going YES
sells to reach an inland port.
Exeter today has population of
over $1,000, and is an important
center of agricultural trade. Its
various industries include brewing.
paper making and iron founding
Tourist traffic during the summer
season is very heavy, especially
since 1t is well located as base for
tours of the west country. Daily
motor BUSES leave the huge city
terminal for all parts of Devon and
Cornwall"