DEVON - CITY OF EXETER - THE
CATHEDRAL |
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Cathedral Church of St Peter |
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Exeter is a Cathedral of the Old Foundation so before the
Reformation was governed rather like it is today, that is by a Dean and
Chapter of Canons Secular - secular priests - and not by a prior and
monks. So here you will find a series of monuments to the
Bishops of Exeter but no priors; the deans before the Reformation were buried
in the chapter house and have no monuments. Thee see was founded
at Crediton (q.v.) in 909 but moved to Exeter in 1049.
I have divided the page into sections for each part of the
cathedral, arranged in way you might travel around the church
when you visit. The entrance is the north door of the west wall
of the nave so turn round, look at the easily missed west wall
and then walk down the north aisle of the nave...etc.
Unfortunately the monuments in each section have necessarily been arranged
according to layout requirements and not accoring to geography
or history! |
There is no parking at the cathedral and
although there is some street parking in the City, it is better to use one of
the pay & display car parks. I found that the Quay car park was the best:
it is near the cathedral (and the other churches as well), long
stay and relatively inexpensive. It is signposted. Cost of entry
is now £7.50; there are also concessions. When I last visited
there was no extra charge for photgraphy.
Cathedral website;
Wikipedia entry. |
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List of Monuments in
the Cathedral
There may appear
to be some inconsistencies here because of the
irregularities of titles etc; I have tried to iron these
out for simplicity of use but it is not possible to be
totally consistent. For example there may be a J
Smith and a J Smith, Archdeacon: I have
referred to these as Smith, J for the first and
for the second Smith, Ven J, rather than
Archdeacon J Smith. I have been inconsistent with
bishops, sometimes calling them Bishop Jones
and sometimes calling them Rt Rev Jones; I will
iron this out in due course. I have been remiss with
women, only calling them Mrs if I am certain
they were married and not using the term Ms;
men do not get the title Mr which will cause
some confusion. This can be even more confusing as
unmarried women were at times referred to as Mrs.
There were no women clerics at the time we are
considering so this problem is solved.
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Allen, Cpt G A; Angel,
A C;
Armstrong, T; Atherton,
I A;
Bacon, W; Baker, A S; Baker, Rev G; Barkely, Col C A F H;
Barnes, Mrs A;
Barnes, Anne;
Barnes, Mrs Anne (same person:
three entries); Barnes, G;
Barnes, Ven G;
Barnes, K;
Barnes, M;
Barnes, P;
Barnes,
Philippa; (same person: two entries)
Barnes,
Preb. R; Barnes,
Ven. R; Barnes,
Archdeacon R (same person: three entries);
Bartlam, Rev T; Barton,
Canon P; Bealey,
J P B; Bealey, S;
Beauchamp, F J; Bell,
J; Bennet, D;
Bennet Col J;
Bickersteth, E.;
Bickersteth, Bp E
H;
Binney, Preb
J E; Boyd, Very
Rev A;
Boyd, F J;
Britnell, J; Bruce,
Bp G W H;
Blackmore, R.D;
de Bohum, Sir H;
[Bohun] Countess M;
Brackenbury, Lt J;
Buller, Mrs A;
Buller, General Sir
R; Buller,
Bp W;
Buncombe, C E;
Call, Lt-Col T; Carew,
Sir P; Carey,
Bp V; Case, Lt-Col W;
Charlton, Lt J W; Clarke,
S P; Comins,
Rev T; Cormick, Col J;
Corneck, Mrs F A;
Corneck, S W;
Cotton, Dr E; Cotton,
Bp W;
Courtney,
Earl H; Courtenay,
Sir P; Cruse,
Sub-Lt C; Cure, M;
Daubeny, Mrs E; David,
Rev W; Davis, J.S.C;
Davy, Dr E;
Delamain, Col J;
Dod, Mrs C M;
Dod, Admiral E;
Dod, Cpt M ;
Dod, M E; Drew, Mrs D; Drew,
E Jnr; Drew, E Snr;
Duckworth Mrs M I;
Duckworth, Miss M G;
Dyer,
Lord B W;
Earl, Rt Rev A;
Earl, Dr A;
Famin, Mrs J;
Famin, P E;
Ferdinant, Mrs L;
Fisher, Canon J P;
Force, E; Freemantle,
Mjr-Gen F; Fursdon,
Lt E;
Furze, E M;
Gilbert, Sir J;
Gill, Lt D L; Godwin,
Matthew;
Gould, G;
Grant, J;
Griffith, Mrs A;
Guard, Lt-Gen W;
Hall,
Gen. C J; Hall, Mrs H;
Hall, R; Hall,
Dr N;
Hardy, Mrs E L; Hardy,
Cpt T RN;
Harford, L; Hartropp,
E B; Harvey, A;
Harvey, R;
Hawtrey, Rev C ;
Hawtrey, Rev S; Heberden,
Canon T;
Heberden, Preb.
T; (same person: two entries);
Hedgeland, Prebendary P; Heinzelman,
J G J; Hennis,
Dr P; Hennis,
S P; Hereford,
Mrs E; Hereford, R;
Hewitt, W K;
Hibbert, S; Hill, Lt E C;
Hill, Mrs;
Hoblyn, Rev R; Hole,
Rev R; Hole,
Ven. W;
Horden, Rt Rev J; Humphreys,
Mrs C E; Humphreys, J;
Humphreys Lt J;
Humphreys, W;
Irvine, Mrs M;
Jane;
John the Chanter;
Johnes, Ven T; Johnson, C T;
Joly, Lt E deL ;
Kekewhich, R J;
Kennedy, C;
Lacy, Bp E;
Latimer, T;
Lavington, Bp G;
McCabe, Cpt B; McDonald, Lt-Col John;
Mansfield, Cpt J W;
Marriott, Mjr W
H; Marshal, Bp
H; Martin, Mrs E M; Mercer,
Gen A; Milner, Lady D; Moe, Mrs M; Montgomery,
J D;
Moore, Cpt J;
Moore, Mrs J;
Meyer, Rt
Hon Lady C; Moore, Rev G;
Nation, M J;
Newcombe, J;
Newark, Baron J;
Norris, W;
Northcote, J;
Nutcombe, Mrs A;
Nutcombe, Rev G;
Nutcombe, Mrs M;
Nutcombe, Rev N;
O'Brien, R;
Okes, Dr T; Orde,
Mjr C W;
Oxenham, A K N;
Oxenham, Mrs C;
Oxenham, R G;
Palmer,
Very Rev J;
Park, Mjr-Gen C W; Pearce,
Vice-Admir S;
Peard, Mrs M;
Peebles, Cpt A L; Piers,
Miss H W W; Piggott,
C; Pigou, C; Power,
Cpt W ;
Prickett, Rev M;
Pridham-Whippel, Admr Sir H D;
Pryke, W E;
de Raleigh, Sir H; Read,
H;
Reid, Lt P F; Rice,
Lt H; Robertson,
Rt Rev A; Roger,
Canon J;
Russel, W H;
Rudman, J A;
Sadler, M F;
Salt, Mrs A A;
Salter, P;
Sandford, Ven E G;
Sandford,
Cpt F S;
Sandford, Lt R D;
Scott,
Cpt R F RN; Seymore, H;
Simcoe, Lt-Gen J G; Simms,
Ven A; Skinner, R; Skinner,
Dr T; Smyth, J;
Smyth, Col W A;
Stanhope, A E;
Stapleton, Sir R;
Stapleton, Bp W; Steevens Cpt C;
Stephens, Mrs A E;
Stephens, Ven J
M;
Stewart, The Hon E;
Street, Col H;
Studdy, Lt W H;
Sylke, Preceptor;
Sweetland, H;
Sweetland, H W;
Temple, Rt Rev F;
Thompson, Lt J D;
Thorold, E S;
Tottenham, C D;
Turner,
C A; Twopenny, S;
Vaughan, T E;
Vickary, Rev A T R;
Vickary, Mrs B;
Wainright, Lt F;
Wainright, Mrs;
Wainright, Miss;
Walford, Cpt G N;
Webb, Lt P C;
Wesley, S S;
Weston, Mrs L;
Weston, M; Weston,
Bp S; Weston, Cpt W;
Wilcox, A W; Willis,
M; Wilson,
T;
Wood, D J;
Woolton,
Rt Rev J (monument);
Wyndham, Lt C H; |
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Above Top:
Richard
Doddridge Blackmore (1900)
Barrister
of Middle Temple and the
author of Lorna Doone. By
Harry Hems
Above Bottom: Portions of the west front were restored in
memory of George Gould (1928) churchwarden of
Anerley, Teignmouth. |
Above Top: Frederick Temple (1902) Headmaster of
Rugby School and subsequently Bishop of Exeter, London and
Archbishop of Canterbury.
Above Botom:
Christopher Turner Johnson MRCS
(1811) Surgeon and anatomical lecturer. Occulist of
the West of England Eye Infirmary. |
Above Top:
John Samuel Champion Davis CBE VD DL (1926)
County Director of the Red Cross.
Above Middle:Thomas Edward Vaughan (1800)
H M Bengal Civil
Service
Above Bottom:
Lt Charles Hugh Wyndham (1876 at 27) 21st Royal
Scots Fusiliers. Signed Cox &
Sons, London |
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Above Left:Mrs Mary Irvine
(1799)
She died of yellow fever at 24 at St Domingo; also her
parents Joseph (1801) and Ann (1928)
Williams'
Above Right: ...officers of the 32nd or Cornwall
Regiment of Light Infantry who with 448 NCO's and private
soldiers were killed or died of wounds or sickness during the
defence of Lucknow and Cawnpore 1857 and in the subsequent
campaigns against mutinous Sepoys and rebels...
Col C A
F H Barkely CB, Lt Col W Case,
Cpts C Steevens,
J Moore,
J W
Mansfield, W Power,
B McCabe,
Lts E deL Joly,
J D Thompson,
F
Wainwright, P C Webb,
J Brackenbury,
E C Hill,
W H Studdy & J W
Charlton. Also to Mrs J Moore,
Mrs Wainwright,
Miss Winwright,
Mrs Hill and 43 soldiers' wives and 55
children who were barbarously massacred at Caenpore, June 1857. |
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This chapel is that of the Devonshire
Regiment, which was a line regiment of the British Army and which
served under various titles and in many wars, including the Boer
War, World War I and World War II. Three Victoria Crosses were
awarded, the memorial to one of these recipients being shown
below. It was amalgamated with the Dorset Regiment in 1958 to
form the Devon and Dorset Regiment and then in 2007 amalgamated
with four other regiments to form a large regiment, The Rifles. |
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Lt-Col John McDonald
FRS RAS (1831)
Youngest son of Flora McDonald, the Jacobite heroine.
He joined the Bengal Engineers /Cartographers. Floor brass in
the ST marks his burial site. |
James Bell (1805)
He 'died
in the vicinity of the city' aged 23 |
Above Top:
Matthew Godwin
(1586 aged 18) Organist and master of music at
Canterbury and Exeter. Note the organ, theorbo and lute.
Above Bottom:
John George James Heinzelman
(1824) |
Above Left: 'Near this
place are depoſited the remains of...'
Catharine Estridge Buncombe
(1772) of the
Island of St Chriſtopher . She died in this city...in the 35th
year of her age'.
Above Right: 'Near this place are deposited the remains
of...' Margaret, wife of Irenæus
Moe
of Barbados (1770). Died 'near this
city, age 29.
Although these two tablets, which are sited one above the other, are very similar in both appearance
and date, note the use the letters ſ on the left and s on the
right.
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'Beneath this tablet lie the remains of...'
George
Augustus Allen (1826) . 'Late Lieut & Captain in the
Gredadier Regiment of Foot Guards. ..' Present at the Battle of
Waterloo. 'At the early age of 28...he died of consumption at
Sidmouth.
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Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1876)
Cathedral organist; several of his anthems are still performed.
Buried 'in a vault in the Old Cemetery of this City. |
Above: Mary Isabella
(1902)
& Mary Georgina Duckworth
(1902)
Mother and daughter.
Right:
John Horden DD (1895)
Bishop of Moosonee; born in Exeter. Wall brass.
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Robert
Skinner (1859) '...interred at Thorverton...' |
Top:
Cpt Robert Falcon Scott RN CVO (1912) A Devon man
for Oatlands, Devonport. Above is his first expedition flag
presented by his mother. The names of his four companions are
not mentioned.
Bottom:
Robert George Kekewich (1914) 'The defender of
Kimberley' He was an Exeter man and soldier who was promoted to
the rank of Major General. He was invalided out of the army but
returned to take command in WWI. However being sick and
suffering depression he commmited suicide in 1914 and was buried
in St Martin's church yard, Exminster. |
John
Humphreys (1863) '... his mortal remains rest
beside those of his wife in Wear Gifford Churchyard.
Catherine Elizabeth (1850),
wife of John. Their eldest son
John (1845), a lieutenant in the 87th Irish
Fusileers, who died at Pailsey aged 18. Below is added
William (1865) the youngest son,
who died aged 30; '...whose mortal remains rest bedside those of
his parents...' |
Saccharissa,
only daughter of Thomas & Dorothy Hibbert (1828)
'...in the 27th year of her age...' Signed: R.
Westmacott (Jnr) Wilton Place, London. |
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Top: Underneath are laid the mortal
remains of Jane
youngest
child of John, 4th Earl of Hopetoun & Louisa Dorothea...who died
here in her eleventh year...1834'
Bottom: 'Near this spot are
interred the remains of
The Hon. Elizabeth Stewart
(1835)' |
Top: 'Near this spot lie the mortal
remains of...' Anna
Alicia,
Relict of Cpt George Burgoyne
Salt RN and
daughter of Admiral Fitzherbert
(1834)
Bottom:
James Atkinson Rudman
(1804)
aged
24. See below for a curiosity |
Top: 'T. Okes M. D.
ÆTAT. 66. A.D. 1797.' The rest of
the short inscription is in Greek.
Middle: 'In the nave not far from this place are
deposited the remains of Hugh, 2nd Earl of Devon (1377) and
Margaret his wife (1391). 'by the side of the above are interred
the remains of Sir Peter Courtnay (1409) son of the above. Their
monument may be seen in the south transept.
Bottom;
Mjr-Gen Fitz Roy Freemantle CD
(1894)
Freeman of the City. Colonel Commanding the 11th
Regimental District. Signed: Harry Hems & Sons, Exeter. |
Top:
Jane Famin
(1829)
aged 30. Added below (but more worn) her husband
P E Famin (1851) aged 68.
Bottom:
'This window erected to the memory of his
friend
Thomas Latimer
by Sir Edward Watkin Bart. MP was unveiled and
dedicated on the 5th July 1889. |
Top:
Mary Elizabeth Dod (1864)
Only daughter of Admiral Dod, died at 95
Bottom:
Peter Hennis
MD (1833)
of Youghal, County Cork. Died at 31 in a
duel. He challenged Sir John Jeffcott to a duel after the latter
accused Hennis of spreading rumours that may have impeded
Jeffcott's marriage to Flora McDonald's grand daughter. Jeffcott
fired on hearing the word 'prepare'; Hennis did not fire,
forgave his opponent and died eight days later. Jeffcott
meanwhile had jumped on a ship to Sierrs Leone where he was
chief justice. (Information from
Peter Selly) |
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Sir Redvers Buller VC (1908) He was awarded the VC during
the Zulu War. A popular general, he was born and died in
Crediton where his grave may been seen in the church yard. He
has an unusual monument in the church there, an cenotaph with
recumbent effigy in Winchester Cathedral and a bronze equatrian
statue in Exeter, just outside the college. |
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Sophia Charlotte Hennis (1834).
Died at Leeds aged 28. By
E. Gaffin of Regent
Street |
Cage John Hall (1854)
General and colonel of the 70th regiment. 'His remains are
deposited in a vault in St David's Church Yard' Also his widow
Harriet (1834) |
Top:
Col John Delamain
(1836) 'Companion of the Most Honorable Military Order
of the Bath & Colonel in the Honorable East India Company's
Service. Late Commandant of the Station and Garrison of
Agra.'
Bottom: 'Near this spot lieth the remains of
Charlotte Maria, wife of
Admiral Dod (1808), their son
Captain Michael Dod (1815)
aged 37, and
Admiral Edmund Dod (1817) 'Admiral of the White' |
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Revd Marmaduke Prickett MA
(1839) of Burlington, East Riding of Yorkshire. Late
chaplain of Trinity College, Cambridge. Died at Torquay at
34 |
Top: The above window is dedicated to
Charles Arthur Turner
KCIE (1907) Puisne judge of the
High Court of Allahabad, India, Chief Justice of Madras, Member
of the Council of the Secretary of State for India
Bottom: Rev Thomas Comins (1799)
'44 years priest vicar and sub-treasurer' He died aged 75. |
' Near this spot are deposited the remains
of The Reverend Richard Hoblyn AM
Fellow of
Balliol College, Rector of All Saints & St Boltoph in Colchester
and of St Lawrence, Newland in the same city...died in the city
at the house of his brother-in-law, Reverend William Stabback '
(1827) |
Thomas Call (1788)
late Lieutenant Colonal Chief engineer in the
Service of the Honorable Company of Marchants of England,
trading to the East Indies on their Bengal Eſtablishment.'
He died age 40 'on board the William Pitt Indiaman when on her
Voyage from Calcutta to the Iſland of
Great Britain.' |
Some Wall
Brasses |
Thomas Wilson
(1902) 'died near Cairo' Member of the 'Guild of St
Peter and of the Voluntary Choir of this Cathedral' |
Edward Serle Thorold (1899)
Brass with arms. |
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A Curiosity: Two Left Feet? |
Cathedral guides will sometimes ask you if
you see anything unusual about the lady in the James Rudman
monument and, if you hesitate, will ask you to look at the feet.
And, yes, the sculptor has indeed carved two left feet. This is
not immediately obvious - and is certainly not obvious at all in
the above photograph - as the lady is depicted as having drawn
up her left leg and passed her right leg a little under the
archway created by this position so that the the sole of her
right foot more or less faces the observer. As she is wearing
sandals her toes are not obvious but if you look down and from
above the toes on this right foot are indeed the toes of a left
foot.
If anyone knows any tales about this, please let me know. |
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North Transept |
Unfortunately the North Transept is used as
a furniture store but the amount varies from time to time: you
may be lucky or you may be not. The photographs were taken over
several visits when the items were at a minimum. |
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Preceptor Sylke (1508)
Chantry chapel: there is only the stone cadaver effigy on a tomb
chest. The inscription on the canopy above reads: 'I am what you
will be, and I was what you are. Pray for me I beseech you'
A preceptor was the master of music |
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Left:
Captain
Benjamin Dollen (1700) White marble. Note the ship in
full sail below the inscription panel. The design is taken from
a drawing by Nicholas Blassett (ob 1659) who lived and worked in
Amiens, France. Although it is said to have been signed by
Weston, Dr Clive Easter has been unable to detect this signature
and feels it is certainly not in Weston's style.
Above: Tomb slab under an arch in the east chapel of the
transept. Lettering mostly obliterated. Note the fractured
ledger stone on the floor in front of this monument.
Right: Bishop John Woolton (1594) Very
high up. His actual tomb is in the presbytery.
Below Left to Right:
'Near this place is interr'd Being all which a lingering
disease could impair...' Sarah Twopenny
(1817)
of Casterton Parva, Rutland.
Caroline Draper Tottenham
(1818) of Clifton ,
Glou.
Charlotte Piggott (1823) of Doddershall-Park,
Bucks
Eliza Bankes Hartopp (1814) 'Died at
Torquay...and was inerr'd in a vault near this Spot' |
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Above Left, Centre & Right Top:
Sir John Gilbert (1596) & Wife.
A squirrel sits at his feet
Above Right Bottom:
Bishop John 'The Chanter'
(1191) One slab of Tournai Marble and one of Purbeck
Marble rest on a late 14th century tomb chest
Below Left Top:
Captain Temple Hardy RN (1814).
Younger son of Admiral Sir Charles Hardy and his widow
Elizabeth Lucy Hardy (1835). ' his remains are
buried near this spot...' Nothing to do with the
Hardy of Trafalgar/Nelson fame: that was Captain Thomas Hardy RN
and that was the one who didn't write books! Bottom:
Elizabeth Mary Furze (1809 age 5)
'...lies beneath this tablet...'
Below Centre Top: Catharine Kennedy
(1809 aged 9) '...lies beneath this
urn...' Bottom:
Thomas
Heberden MA (1843) Canon Residentiary
Below Right Top: Eleanor Martin (1812)
Widow of Joseph Martin MP and banker; their
son and son-in-law were both canons residentiary. '...in this
chapel are deposited the remains of...'
Below Right Bottom: Archibald Robertson STP (1931)
Bishop of Exeter 1903-1916. And
Alfred Earle
(1918) He was Suffragen Bishop of Marlborough (now in
abeyance, subject to London) and simultaneously Rector of
Saint-Botolph-without Bishopgate, Rector of St Michael's,
Cornwall, and Prebendary of St Paul's. He was installed as Dean
of Exeter in 1900, while nominally still holding the London
posts. |
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Anne Barnes
(1822) Widow of Ralph, Archdeacon of Totness. 'In the
same vault lie the remains of the above
Ralph Barnes
and Philippa their daughter who died August
20th 1801 aged 15' |
George Barnes
(1861) 'Member of the Honourable East India Company's
Service and Secretary to the Government in India' and
Margaret Diana (1927). He was the eldest son of
Archdeacon Ralph (left) |
Philip Salter
(1554) Lay-Vicar. 'cut off by accidental death July
21st 1834 in the 31st year of his age.' The vertical lines are
supporting wires. |
James Newcombe
BA (1816) Chorister 1743' Secondary & Lay Vicar 1755 &
Priest-Vicar 1758. He served the cathedral 73 years |
Anne Barnes
(1822), Philippa Barnes (1801),
Maria Barnes (1834) & Katharine Anne Barnes (1850) |
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Above & Right:
Hugh Courtney, 2nd Earl of Devon (1377) &
Margaret [Bohun]
(1391)
Their son became Archbishop of Canterbury and arranged
for their burial in Exeter Cathedral rather than in Tiverton. |
Oringinally in a Courtenay chantry chapel in
the nave where a brass indicates the original site. Much
restored |
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Sir Richard Stapleton
(1326) Brother of the Bishop; lawyer and judge. Unusual feature: his
squire at the head and his groom holding his horse at the
foot. Note also that this is one of a series of monuments
where the effigy turns outwards slightly.
N.B. Pevsner gives the name as Robert (1326) but all
other sources as Sir Richard (1326). Further details are
given below under Bishop Stapleton. |
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Rachel O'Brien (1800)
She died saving her child from a fire at the age of 19.
Signed by J. Kendall, the Cathedral Surveyor |
Ellsworth
Fursdon (1865) Lieutenant 2nd Battalion 9th
Regiment of Foot. Died in Honk Kong aged 24. |
Rev George Baker
(1772)
Archdeacon of Totnes and Canon of the Cathedral. Also his
daughter Sarah (1760) '...both buried near
this place...' Also his wife Mary (1777)
and their daughter Martha (1778) |
Philip Barton (1796) DD
Canon and Sub-Dean of the Cathedral |
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Above Top & Left Bottom:
Cadaver effigy behind a grille of contemporary ironwork.
This is said to be part of the tomb of
Anthony
Harvey (1564), whose canopied tomb chest - with no
effigy - is shown Left Top & Above Bottom. The
details are a mixture of Gothic and Classical design. |
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Above & Right:
Bishop Henry Marshal (1206) was brother of William
Marshal, Earl of Pembroke and became the 8th Bishop of
Exeter. Purbeck marble coffin shaped slab with low relief
effigy on later Purbeck marble tomb chest with three seated
figures in quatrefoils: Christ in Majesty, St Peter and
Saint Paul. Separate side slabs in this aisle are part of
the monument. The Norman cathedral was completed under Henry
Marshal's episcopate and he taxed every household in the
diocese one halfpenny each Whitsuntide towards the
Cathedral's upkeep |
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Above Left:
Felicity
Jemima (1813)
Daughter of William Lord Beauchamp of
Powyke. '...in a vault below...'
Above Right:
Rt Hon Lady Mary
Catherine Meyers (1802) '...leaving a Son
and a Daughter to the Care of her afflicted Husband.'
Right: George
Barnes DD (1847) First Archdeacon of Bombay and
then later Archdeacon of Barnstable and Rector of Sowton.
Far Right: Henry
Seymore (1807) |
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Bishop Walter de Stapleton
(1326) 15th Bishop of Exeter. Another monument
which lies between the aisle and chancel and both aspects
are shown here. The monument is best seen from the chancel so
ask a member of staff may you go beyond the ropes. The
Bishop holds a book and looks at a painted of the Risen
Christ, depicting the Five Holy Wounds, which is on the arched
ceiling above him.
He was the younger brother of Sir Robert Stapleton, whose
monument is near-by, founder of Exeter College, Oxford and
Lord High Treasurer of England. They were born in Monkleigh,
Devon. |
The Killing of the Stapleton
Brothers |
During the war bewteen King Edward II
and Queen Isabella, the King had appointed Bishop Stapleton
to be Keeper of the City of London. The Londoners were loyal
to the Queen and regarded members of the establishment -
such as the Bishop - responsible for the misgovernment of
the country.
The bishops had gathered in Lambert, south of the Thames, to
arrange a mission of two of them to cross the river and
convene peace talks between the King and Queen. Bishop
Stapleton and the Bishop of London volunteered to take this
journey into hostile territory and crossed the river to meet at
Blackfriars just outside to City gates. The Londoners met a
the Guildhall and planned to
ambush the bishops and loot the merchants of the City.
Bishop Stapleton and his brother Richard, one of the
justices, were ambushed and the latter was dragged from his
horse and murdered by the mob. The Bishop fled to Saint
Paul's Cathedral but he was persued by the mop, dragged out
of the church and beaten and butchered to death. He was
beheaded and his body flung on a dung hill. However his
supporters rescued the body buried it by the banks of the
Thames.
Six months later Queen Isabella, not approving of the action
of her supporters, ordered thay the Bishop's body be buried
with honour in his cathedral.
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Far Left & Top Row Above:
Bishop Valentine Carey
(1626) 39th Bishop.
Coloured alabaster. Although said to have been a 'prudently
and courtly man' he became involved in a long and apparently
fruitless dispute with Exeter Corporation over their refusal
of his request to have a private dor in the City walls.
Bottom Row Above:
Bishop Edmund Lacy (1453)
22nd Bishop. The tomb lies between the aisle and
chancel (both aspects above) and there was originally a
brass on the marble slab, but now just the matrix; this was
a figure of a bishop with a crozier. Bishop Lacy, as then
Dean of the Royal Chapel, accompanied King Henry V on his
campaign in France, being at Agincourt. There is a public
house in Chudleigh, Devon named after him. |
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Lieutenant-General John
Graves Simcoe (1806)
He was the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper
Canada and founded Ontario. The large wall tablet - by
John Flaxman -has a portrait bust and figures of a
soldier and a native Canadian. |
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Lt-Gen Simcoe was buried in the Wolford
Chapel at Dunkeswell, near Honiton, Devon and which had been
built on his commission in 1802. The chapel was part of the
Simcoe estate and following Simcoe's death it remained with
the family until 1923 but was eventually sold and parts
broken up. The chapel and most of the estate was acquired by
publisher Sir Geoffrey Harmsworth and in 1966 he decided to
donate it to the John Graves Simcoe Memorial Foundation on
behalf of the people of Ontario. He presented the deeds to
the then Premier of Ontario, together with a deed making a
permanent right of access. In 1982 the chapel was acquired by
the Ontario Heritage Trust. The chapel is this the property
of Ontario and flies the Canadian flag. |
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Bishop William Cotton ( (1621)
49th Bishop of Exeter. He taught at Eton School, where he
had been educated, for seventeen years; it is said that he
treated the clergy like school boys. Painted alabaster..
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Said to be Sir Humphrey de
Bohum, Earl of Hereford (1322) |
Sir Henry de Raleigh
(1302) |
Similar effigies but with
subtle differences; note how both turn slightly like the
Stapleton effigy in the opposite aisle |
First Column
from Top Downwards: 1.
Dr Edward Henry
Bickersteth (1906); 2.
Edward Bickersteth (1897) Son of the Bishop,
himself a missionary bishop in Japan; 3.
William Emmanuel Pryke MA
(1920) Canon and
Chancellor
Second Column as above: 1.
Ernest Gray Sandford (1910)
Canon and Precentor; Archdeacon of Exeter. 2.
Ralph Barnes AM (1820) 'In this Cathedral
are deposited the remains of...' Vicar of Herberton and
Heavitree, Canon of this Cathedral, Archdeacon of Totness,
and Chancellor of the Diocese. And his Wife Anne.
'Near the same place are deposited the remains of...'
Third Column as above: 1.
Alfred Earl DD
(1918) Bishop of Marlborough and Dean of Exeter.
Buried at West Alvington. 2.
Arthur Simms
(1921) Archdeacon of Totness and Canon of this
Cathedral. 3.
William Bacon (1840)
The fourth row seems to reflect the preceding
on; I wonder how many times the juxtaposition of the two
tablet on the bottom row been noticed.
Fourth Row. 1.
Rev'd William David MA
(1909). Priest Vicar of the Cathedral. Custos of
the College of Vicars Choral. 2.
Herbert
Read Sculptor responsible for the chancel seats.
Latin text. 3. Lt Henry Rice RN (1808)
Fifth Row: 1.
Bishop George
Lavington LL D (1762) 51st Bishop of Exeter and
chaplain to George I. An early opponent of Methodism who
entered a long correspondence on the subject. 2.
Venerable John Moore Stephens MA (1865)
Archdeacon of Exeter. Buried at St Peter's. And his wife
Anne Eleanor Stephens (1849), '...near
this spot are deposited...'
Sixth Row: 1.
Archibald Boyd DD
(1883) Dean 2.
Michael Ferrebee
Sadler (1895) Receiver of Honiton, Proctor in
Convention for this Diocese, Prebendary of Wells. The
two bronzes below are reproduced in the centre two rows
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Left:
Dr Nicholas
Hall DD (1709) Cathedral Treasurer; son of Robert
Hall
Above: Robert Harvey (1791)
'...late of the Island of Granada...whose remains are
interred in a vault near this place. |
Right:
Bishop
Stephen Weston (1742) 52nd Bishop of Exeter. And
his wife Lucia (1741) Below the upper and
main part of the monument, and partly obscured is added their
daughter Margaret (1762) By Thomas Ady.
Above: Dorothy Bennet (1736) |
There is a large brass on the floor of the south chancel
aisle to Sir Peter Courtenay
(1409) 7th son
of the Earl of Devon. Although virtually intact it is in a
very worn condition and difficult to make out let alone
photograph. I will attempt to photograph it again on my next
visit but if this proves unsatisfactory yet again I will
execute a drawing. |
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The Chancel |
Several monuments lie between the aisles and
the chancel: two shown below lie entirely in the chancel while
the other is best seen from the chancel. The other monuments
which lie between both are dealt with in the section on the
aisles |
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Bishop Berkely
(1327). The 16th Bishop of Exeter. Tomb chest with
Purbeck Marble slab which lies between the chancel, from
where it is best seen, and the south aisle. Although
Pevsner (The Buildings of England: Exeter) states
the brass matrix on the slab is of 'a demi-figure in a
trefoil', I cannot make this out: it looks like a cross in
low releif within a circle'. |
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Bishop Woolton (1594)
The 37th Bishop of Exeter. Tomb chest eith a black marble
top with inscription. His tablet is in the North Transept.
South side. |
Bishop Bradbridge (1578)
The 36th Bishop of Exeter. Tomb chest with
inscription. North Side. |
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Above, Right
& Below: Tomb chest with effigy in very low releif of
either: Bishop Bartholomeus Iscarus (1184), 6th
Bishop of Exeter, or Leofric (1070), the 1st
Bishop. The latter transferred the see to Exeter from Crediton
in 1133, the former being a walled city while the latter was
then a village. He also united the Diocese of Devon with that of
Cornwall. (see below)
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Above, Left and Below:
Simon of Apulia. 9th Bishop of Exeter. Purbeck
Marble effigy but in higher relef than that of Iscarus. He was
an Italian and
was appointed as part of a deal between King John and the Pope
following
the lifting of the interdict on England. |
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Diocese of the South-West Peninsula |
The early church organisation of Devon and
Cornwall is somewhat obscure. The diocese of Sherbourne (in
Dorset) was created around 705 and included Devon and Cornwall
as well as Dorset and Somerset. In about 900 the diocese of
Cornwall and Devon were split off this large diocese with the
Devon See being at Tawton (near Barnstaple), now Bishops's
Tawton. The Devon See was again moved to Crediton in 912 and
this was finally moved to Exeter by Bishop Leaofric in 1133, who
also united the Dicese of Devon and Cornwall.
In the 19th century the dioceses of Devon and Cornwall where
again split with the creation of the Dioces of Truro in
Cornwall. Crediton now has a suffragen bishop, subject to the
Bishop of Exeter. |
Three Later Medieval Bishops
(and a 20th CenturyDean) |
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Above and the Left Hand Column
Below
Bishop Stafford (1419) 19th Bishop of
Exeter. Alabaster effigy, polychrome. Note the fine 'gablette'
over the head. The tomb chest and canopy are a latter addition
to match those of Bishop Branscombe. |
Top: Bishop Quinel
(1291). Incised marble floor slab. He began rebuilding
the cathedral as it now appears.
Bottom: Dean Henry Reginald Gamble DD (1931)
He was mayor of Chelsea 1908-9 |
Above and the Right Hand Column
Below
Bishop Walter Branscombe (1280) 12th
Bishop of Exeter called Walter the Good.
The effigy may be of basalt and shows original colouring.
The tomb chest, canopy and the separate angel at the feet are
additions of 1442 |
An Early 17th
Century Couple |
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Sir John Dodderidge (1628)
He wears the scarlet gown of a judge in the
Court of the King's Bench. He was known as the 'Sleeping
Judge' from his habit of closing his eyes while sitting.
Lady Dodderidge (1614) She wears a
flowered brocade gown. Note the wreathed skull that she
is holding |
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Dr James Bidgood MD (1625-1692)
A famous physician who died in Rockbeare and was said
to be worth £25,000 - £30,000 at his death. His father was
poisoned by a servant |
James Raillard (1692)
A Swiss who was granted English citizenship by
Parliament. An Exeter merchant |
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Row 1 & 2, Upper Tier: Sir Gawen
Carew & 2nd Wife (just visible);
Lower Tier: Sir Peter Carew, his
nephew. Note that Sir Peter is shown with cross legs, a
style revived from an earlier era. The monument was
erected in 1589 by Sir Peter. Both men fought in the
Prayer Book Rebellion of 1549.
Row 3, Top: Major William Erskine (1805)
71st Regiment of Foot. He died aged 26. And
below this: Major-General Bryan Blundell
Esq (1799) of Liverpool; Lt Col of the 45th
Regiment of Foot. 'Undernesth lies the body of...'
Row 3, Bottom: Canon William Langdon (1413)
This brass is next to the monment of Bishop
Stafford, who was his kinsman. Note the cope docorated
with Staffordshire knots.
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Very Reverend Thomas Hill MA (1861)
Dean |
Top: Ann Freeman (1897)
Wife of Philip below
Bottom: Philip Freeman AM (1875)
Archdeacon |
Top: Benjamin Morgan Cowie
DD (1900) Dean
Bottom: Spencer Cecil Carpenter DD (1950)
Dean |
Francis Charles Hingeston-Randolph
MA (1910)
Rector of Ringmore & Prebendary of this Cathedral |
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Sir John Speake ( 1519)
He was said to have been knighted for his wealth not
for his prowess in warfare. He was a friend of Bishop Oldham and
their two tombs form a symmetrical pair (see below) |
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Bishop Oldham (1519) The
30th Bishop of Exeter |
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Look carefully at
the window sill in the cathedral refectory. On it rests
what initially looks like the top of an arch but you can also see it
incorporates part of a medieval effigy - either an early knight or a
male civilian, with the head and feet still resting on an
unidentifiable structure. There is an interesting tale
about this: the notes below are based on a short referenced
article by Dr Andrew Sargent, which appeared in
Church Monuments Society Newsletter, Vol 31 No 2, Spring
2016, to which you should refer for further details and
references. See the Church Monuments Society's web site for
copies of the Newsletter.
Below and Left is a coffin lid with any inscription or
markings obliterated and which noe leans agains the wall of
the refectory. |
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From
Medieval Civilian to Later Arch of Even Earlier Bishop to
Refectory Windowsill |
Leofric, who died in 1072, was the first bishop of Exeter
having moved the see in 1049 from Crediton to Exeter and
to the existing Saxon monastic church of Saint Mary and St
Peter there. Leofric was buried in the crypt of his cathedral
although no grave or monument may be seen today.
The Elizabethans looked back on the Pre-Conquest
church as
being pure before all the abuses crept in as the Middle
Ages progressed: the often observed 'Good Old Days'
syndrome. In 1586 John Hooker - an Exeter man and very much
an all rounder being a historian, writer, solicitor and
antiquary - was clearly of this mindset as in 1586 he
persuaded the Cathedral Chapter to erect a tomb to Leofric,
their first bishop. No one knew where his remains were
buried even then but no matter! Hooker believed that the
Lady Chapel stood on the site on the Saxon Cathedral and
therefore the south tower must stand on the site of the
graveyard. This belief and reasoning was quite incorrect but
nevertheless
an alter tomb was erected to Leofric - or rather a cenotaph
- against the east wall of this tower between choir and
aisles. This monument featured a canopy with the words in gilt inscribed on
it: 'Leoffrictus the firste Bysshope of Exeter lyeth here'
In 1885 a hollow sound from the tomb led to the belief that
there was a cavity inside, perhaps containing
relicts, and the tomb was dismantled. There was nothing of
interest and certainly no bones, the grave of Leofric having
never been discovered anyway. The monument - now confirmed
as a Tudor cenotaph was not reconstructed. However what was
discovered was that the monument had been built from
demolished fragments, the top slab being part of a Purbeck
marble altar slab, the back part of a reredos or shrine with
carved fragments, and the front panel of parts of two
monuments. It is curious that an antiquarian should
cannibalise old monuments.
The structure on the window sill is the back of the canopy
and we can see that is was carved out of a medieval monument
with the effigy partly destroyed; in fact this is the
back of the canopy which would have faced the wall and been
left partly unworked. If we could turn in round we would see
the front of the canopy with the inscription still visible
this was clearly smoother and so easier for the mason to
work.
I should like to thank Dr Andrew Sargent
for telling this interesting tale in the
Newsletter.
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All the photographs in this section were
taken by the Webmaster. Additional information given with thanks by Dr
Clive Easter PhD. The graphics are from John
Britton Cathedral Antiquities
Vol 4 (1836) and were engraved by J Le Keux from drawings
by Willis, Joseph Gandy, H Anstead and S Rayner.
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