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Exeter being the
capital city of Devon has more
in common with other large cities in Britain, than the quiet quaint,
rural towns, and villages of Devon. The city was founded by the Romans
in
50 AD: it was the Roman's
administrative center, and central to their defense of the West
Country. Although a settlement dated earlier than 50AD, is believed to
have existed. The older settlement
was
believed to have been located on
the banks of the River Exe. Its Latin name Isca Dumnoniorum,
suggests
the settlement was an
oppidum,
or walled town, of Celtic origin. The Dumnones, were a Celtic
tribe who inhabited part of the South West Country of
Britain, during the Iron Age, and the early period of the
Roman
occupation. After the Roman withdrawal Exeter: which had became a very
important Saxon stronghold, was attacked and taken by the Danes in 876.
The
Danish raiders were eventually driven away by King Alfred The Great.
The
Saxons fortified the town with a large thick wall, which proved a very
effective defense against later attempts to take the town. And this
wall that was built all those centuries ago is still in evidence today.
It was
so formidable that in 1068,
William the Conquer took 18 days to finally breach its defenses.
The Normans built their own castle on the spot. The castle was built by
a
seigneur (feudal lord) on Williams, orders to no-doubt subdue the
rebellious, and troublesome
Saxons, alas all that remains of the Norman castle are ruins.
Exeter remained a very important and busy port, until inexplicably, in
1290, a weir was built across the Exe. Thus making the river
un-navigatable, and effectively putting an end to shipping
reaching Exeter. It
was not until the building of a canal: to by-pass the weir (
Incidentally this is
believed to be the very first canal in Britain ) was constructed in
1563,
that ships could once more navigate as far as Exeter. The town with the
arrival once more of ships began to revive
its former
prominence. The
Cathedral Church of St Peter. A church has stood on this
site since
932; originally a Saxon Church in 1050, construction began on a Norman
cathedral, which was to replace the original Saxon building,
William Warelwast, who was William the Conquers nephew was appointed to
the
see. Its official foundation was in 1133, after Warelwast's
time,
but it took many more years to complete. Bishop
Bronecombe was responsible for instigating the compleat re-modeling of
the Cathedral a herculean task that took 90, years to completed.
However
this resulted in the magnificent Cathedral that one can visit to-day.
There is a excellent free guided
tour of the cathedral. The tours run
from 11am, to 2.30 pm, Monday, to Saturday, and from 4 pm on Sunday.
Tours start in April, and run until October. The University of-
Exeter, university education in Exeter began
in 1922, with the conversion of the previous Royal Albert Memorial
College; into the University College of the South West of England, The
University of Exeter has
one of the largest campuses, of all Britain's universitys. All told it
has three campuses in all: two are located in the City,
Streatham,
and St
Luke's and the third Tremough, located in Cornwall. The Tremough campus
is
maintained in conjunction with the University College
Falmouth, under the Combined
Universities in Cornwall. Exeter has very large
student population, Exeter today,
is a very busy lively place, due in no small part to the
afore-mentioned student
population. With historic Public Houses & plenty of Night
Clubs,
one of
the liveliest night clubs being named after a world famous night club.
Yes it's called The Cavern, for people from other countries who are
wondering what a earth is ' The Cavern ' that was the Liverpool night
club that gave birth to the Beatles. One excursion I highly recommend
is the Tarka Line
this train runs for 39, miles through some of the
most stunning Devon scenery, the line follows the valley's of the
Rivers Taw & Yeo. And your finally destination the main town of
North Devon Barnstaple. The trip takes two hours thirty minuets, but
believe me when I say it's two hours thirty minuets well spent.!
Eight
miles to the East of Exeter lies the charming East Devon woodland
village of West Hill.
West Hill is a fairly large village, with a population of 2,000. Ottery
St Mary is the closest town, just two miles away and Otterly St Mary
offer's all the
usual town amenities including the Town Council, banks, a library,
police station, many varied shops as well as several pubs and places to
eat. The Village of West Hill has a relatively short history when
compared with most Devon villages, many of which date back to the
Doomsday Book. The 1843 Tythe Map of the area shows West Hill as part
of the Fluxton Tithing and as a rural district of Ottery St Mary. At
this time there was no church, school or inn all usually associated
with a village. In 1843, nearly all the land at West Hill was
owned by Sir John
Kennaway and the houses and cottages were invariably leasehold.
West Hill is however a charming village, set in idylic surroundings,
and well worth visiting. You can visit their web
site by the link on the right of screen
Lying 24, miles east of Exeter is
the ruins of Oakhampton Castle. Oakhampton Castles is surprisingly
relatively unknown, yet it is one of the largest castle ruins in the
West Country. It is believed to have began life as a simple fortified
mound, sometime before 1070. In about 1092, a stone keep was
built by the Normans. Then in the 14th, century a second building was
added to the old keep, at the same time- more buildings were added
below the keep, to form an elongated enclosure which was protected by
thick stone walls and some very steep slopes. A gatehouse was
added connecting to
the rest of the castle by a narrow tunnel. The castle led a fairly
in-significant life. In fact the only act of any significance that
occurred
was when Henry V111, executed the owner ( Henry, Marquis of
Exeter ) for conspiracy in 1539. After the Marquis's execution Henry
V111, seized the castle, and had it destroyed. Nevertheless
the remains are still well worth visiting.
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