EXE
Opposite opinions. The generality of writers, fromHuoker, in 1584, to those of the present time, havestated that St. Mary’s chapel (at the east end of thechoir), is the ancient Saxon church, and that thewhole of the present fabric was about 300 years inbuilding. The subsequent description will enableeverv person to determine the various eras of itserection, from the styles which characterise thedifferent parts of the structure.
The cathedral consists of a nave with two sideaisles, two short transepts formed by the towers,a chapter-house, a choir with side aisles, and tenchapels or oratories, with a room called the con-sistory-court. The nave presents a magniticent andgrand appearance on entering it, though much of theeffect is destroyed by the seats and pews in this partof the fabric. It measures seventy-six feet in widthwithin the walls, and 175 in length from the westerndoor to the organ screen. The roof is supported byfourteen massive clustered columns, from which springsixteen pointed arches ; and above them are twotiers of small open arches. On the nortli side, overone of the arches is a projecting kind of stone pew,tailed the minstrels’ gallery, which is ornamented withsome figures in alto-relievo, holding different musicalinstruments. The choir is of the same width as thenave, and measures 128 feet in length. St. Mary’schapel is sixty-one feet in length, and between thatand the altar screen is a space of twenty-five feet.The whole cathedral measures 408 feet from east towest, including the walls , tire height of the roof orvaulting is sixty-nine feet; and of the Norman towersto the top of the battlements, 130 feet.
The towers, though very similar in shape and cha-racter, display some varieties in their ornaments ; forthe fascia or intersecting arches on the exterior of thenorth tower are entirely different from those on thesouth ; its upper story' is more modern, and the turretsat the angles are later additions. The exterior ap-pearance is that of massive grandeur : and though thearchitect has diversified the surface with shallowniches, numerous columns, and zig-zag mouldings tothe arches, yet the beauty and lightness intended tohe produced by these enrichments, are eclipsed bythe style of architecture which prevails in the windowsand ornamental parts of the cathedral.
The windows of the cathedral are very large, andmany of them contain fine specimens of painted glass.They are all of the same shape, yet the architect hasornamented each with a studied variety of tracery, bywhich plan there are not two windows exactly similaron either side of the building, though the windowswhich are opposite to each other correspond in almostevery instance. Though all the windows are adornedwith tracery and painted glass, yet the two largeones to the east and west outrival them in splendour.The former was repaired and beautified from the be-quest of Henry Blackburn, a canon, in 1390 ; andbesides several painted figures, there are also variousarmorial hearings of the Plantagenet and Courtenayfamilies, and different bishops of the see. The greatwest window, measuring thirty-seven feet high bytwenty-seven feet broad, was fitted up with paintedglass, &c., in 1766. The lower part is divided intotime compartments, seven of which are occupied withfull-length figures of as many saints; that of St. Peterbeing in the centre. Besides various crests, coronets,mottos, mosaic work, and other ornaments, this ele-gant window is adorned with forty-six coats of arms,
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properly adorned with their fields, supporters, quar-terings, &c. The upper consists of two circularmouldings, including several cinquefoils, quatrefoils,and trefoils, eaeli containing a complete coat of arms ;and the centre is occupied with the arms of England.
On the south side of the altar are three stone seals,or stalls, the canopies and ornaments of which areextremely rich and elegant. The recess, or back ofeach seat, forms a semi-octagon, and is adorned withenriched mosaic work. At the top of the back ofthe central seat is the bust of a bishop, and in eachof tlie lateral seats is that of a priest. The seats, asthey rise, form the plinths for the columns, which aresupported by coucliant lions. The columns on eachside of the centre niche are of gilt brass. In St. Mary’sChapel are three stone seats of similar character tothose just mentioned.
The most elegant ornament of the choir is thebishop's throne, the whole of which is composed ofwood, carved in a very delicate and tasteful manner,and constructed to form a light, pyramid of arches,columns, niches, pinnacles, crotchets, and foliatedornaments. Its height is fifty-two feet.
The screen or rood-loft, which separates the navefrom the choir, is supported in front by four Purbeekstone pillars, from which spring the groins of threeflat arches; above these is a row of thirteen smallarches or niches, Ailed with some curious specimensof ancient paintiugs.
On the south-east of the cathedral is the bishop’spalace, a venerable structure, built or enlarged in thetime of Edward IV., by bishop Courtenay; attachedto it are extensive gardens, and the whole is enclosedby a lofty wall. A general notion of the architectureof Exeter may be obtained from the accompanyingengraving.
The Guildhall is an ancient edifice. It was origi-nally erected in 1330 ; the present front, which issupported on pillars, was built in 1593, and the wholewas thoroughly repaired and beautified in 1720; itcontains several valuable portraits, amongst the mostremarkable of which are those of General Monk, Hen-rietta, queen of Charles I., and her daughter, duchessof Orleans, who was born here during the civil wars,besides several others of various distinguished persons.
On an eminence, near the county goal, are theremains of Rougemont Castle, which was exceedinglystrong by its situation, and was fortified with con-siderable skill. The period of its foundation is un-known ; but it was either rebuilt or thoroughlyrepaired by William the Conqueror. It continuedin a state of good preservation until the period of thecivil war, when it was taken by Fairfax, after a siege