Admiring Exeter’s Cathedral between bouts of rain

This past autumn, I was in Devon, England for the Historical Novel Society Conference. While there, I joined one of the organized trips for us to visit Exeter’s Norman-Gothic cathedral, and to enjoy a wander around the pretty town.

The Exeter Cathedral was founded in 1050, but was expanded between the twelfth and fourteenth centuries. It was built on the site of Ancient Roman fortress.

It boasts the longest continuous mediavel stone vaulting in the world, which adds to the grandeur of its interior.

The astonomical clock is also a highlight of the cathedral, the original section dating back to 1483.

The cathedral was damaged during the English Civil War. Unfortunately, the cathedral also suffered a direct hit in 1942 during WWII bombing, and parts of it had to be renovated. Most of the important books and manuscripts had been removed for safekeeping, as had some of the stained glass windows.

Aftre exploring the cathedral, we wandered around town and stopped for a bite to eat at a pub in what appeared to be old warehousing buildings along the River Exe.

The day we were there, we dodged bouts of rain, so it wasn’t ideal for outdoor seating along the river, but it would  probably be enjoyable to enjoy waterside dining al fresco on a nicer day.

Despite the on-and-off weather, it was a pleasant small city to explore. A little over 100,000 inhabitnts, it’s a university town, with a bustling shopping center.

A pleasant day of exploration before our conference began, I was happy to explore pretty Exeter and its dramatic cathedral.