Exeter, Devon, England, June 2022

Sunday, 12th June 2022.

Exeter's City Wall with a plaque attached. The plaque reads 'Built by the Romans about 200 AD, since repaired by others. Much of the City Wall still stands, some of it of original Roman workmanship'. Exeter was once a Roman city known as Isca Dumnoniorum. The Roman's took over the settlement from Celtic tribes and Isca seems to have been the local name for the Exe River and the Dumnonii were the tribe then inhabiting what is now Devon and Cornwall.
Exeter’s City Wall with a plaque attached. The plaque reads ‘Built by the Romans about 200 AD, since repaired by others. Much of the City Wall still stands, some of it of original Roman workmanship’. Exeter was once a Roman city known as Isca Dumnoniorum. The Roman’s took over the settlement from Celtic tribes and Isca seems to have been the local name for the Exe River and the Dumnonii were the tribe then inhabiting what is now Devon and Cornwall.
Another part of the city wall, which was built by the Romans, and then later added to or repaired in particular in Saxon times by Alfred the Great and again during the English Civil War in the 1640s when the Royalists held out against Cromwell. Today around 70 percent of the wall remains.
Another part of the city wall, which was built by the Romans, and then later added to or repaired in particular in Saxon times by Alfred the Great and again during the English Civil War in the 1640s when the Royalists held out against Cromwell. Today around 70 percent of the wall remains.
View of Exeter Cathedral Close Footbridge. This wrought iron bridge spans across the city wall at the entrance to the Cathedral Close. It was formerly part of a footpath along the top of the old city walls that connected the Deanery Gardens with the Bishop's Palace. This slender arched bridge was constructed in 1814 and is today protected as a Grade II* listed structure. The width of the span is 5.8 metres.
View of Exeter Cathedral Close Footbridge. This wrought iron bridge spans across the city wall at the entrance to the Cathedral Close. It was formerly part of a footpath along the top of the old city walls that connected the Deanery Gardens with the Bishop’s Palace. This slender arched bridge was constructed in 1814 and is today protected as a Grade II* listed structure. The width of the span is 5.8 metres.
Tony and Tatiana stood by a talking man at the beginning of the underground passages in Exeter. The manikin, which is in medieval costume and located in a stone alcove, speaks to people as they exit the lift.
Tony and Tatiana stood by a talking man at the beginning of the underground passages in Exeter. The manikin, which is in medieval costume and located in a stone alcove, speaks to people as they exit the lift.

Exeter’s underground tunnels were built in the 14th-century to bring fresh water into the city from natural springs in the surrounding fields. The stone vaulted passages contained lead pipes that carried the water. The passages allowed the pipes to be repaired easily if they sprung a leak. Today the passages are open to the public for guided tours.
Tatiana and Tony stood by a small statue of Queen Elizabeth the first, which is today located in the Underground Passages Heritage Centre. The figure was carved in 1590/1 by the Exeter based sculpture Arnold Hamlyn. The statue was made to adorn the public water conduit on Exeter’s High Street known as ‘Little Conduit’. In 1694 the conduit was demolished to make way for what was St Lawrence’s church and the statue was later placed in a small niche above the church’s porch. The church was destroyed during the Exeter Blitz in 1942, but fortunately the statue survived, and was donated by the Commercial Union Insurance Company to Exeter City Council in 1992.
Tatiana and Tony stood by a small statue of Queen Elizabeth the first, which is today located in the Underground Passages Heritage Centre. The figure was carved in 1590/1 by the Exeter based sculpture Arnold Hamlyn. The statue was made to adorn the public water conduit on Exeter’s High Street known as ‘Little Conduit’. In 1694 the conduit was demolished to make way for what was St Lawrence’s church and the statue was later placed in a small niche above the church’s porch. The church was destroyed during the Exeter Blitz in 1942, but fortunately the statue survived, and was donated by the Commercial Union Insurance Company to Exeter City Council in 1992.
Spud (Tony's step dad), Tatiana and Tony getting ready to enter the underground passages in Exeter. They along with other visitors doing the tour are wearing hard hats.
Spud (Tony’s step dad), Tatiana and Tony getting ready to enter the underground passages in Exeter. They along with other visitors doing the tour are wearing hard hats.
Exeter's Underground Passages ticket.
Exeter’s Underground Passages ticket.
The remains of the gatehouse to Rougemont Castle (also known as Exeter Castle). This red stone gatehouse is the main surviving feature of the original early Norman castle, construction of which began in or shortly after the year 1068, following Exeter's rebellion against William the Conqueror. In 1136 the castle was besieged for three months by King Stephen. An outer bailey, of which little now remains, was added later in the 12th century.
The remains of the gatehouse to Rougemont Castle (also known as Exeter Castle). This red stone gatehouse is the main surviving feature of the original early Norman castle, construction of which began in or shortly after the year 1068, following Exeter’s rebellion against William the Conqueror. In 1136 the castle was besieged for three months by King Stephen. An outer bailey, of which little now remains, was added later in the 12th century.
A plaque attached to the gatehouse of Rougemont Castle, the inscription reads "This gatehouse was built by William the Conqueror soon after 1066 as part of the Norman Castle of Rougemont".
A plaque attached to the gatehouse of Rougemont Castle, the inscription reads “This gatehouse was built by William the Conqueror soon after 1066 as part of the Norman Castle of Rougemont”.
Tony stood in front of the main iron gates of Exeter Castle which is now privately owned. The castle became Devon's county court from at least 1607. The site was largely cleared when a new courthouse was erected in the 1770s. This was subsequently extended in 1895 and 1905. The court moved to a new location in 2004 and the site was sold to a developer.
Tony stood in front of the main iron gates of Exeter Castle which is now privately owned. The castle became Devon’s county court from at least 1607. The site was largely cleared when a new courthouse was erected in the 1770s. This was subsequently extended in 1895 and 1905. The court moved to a new location in 2004 and the site was sold to a developer.
Tony stood beneath a plaque explaining about the Devon Witches. These were the last people in England to be executed for witchcraft. Three of the four women executed were from Bideford. They were arrested in August 1682, tried at the assizes in Exeter on 14 August and hanged on 25 August. The accusations against them, which today sound like malicious gossip, include causing sickness or death through witchcraft.
Tony stood beneath a plaque explaining about the Devon Witches. These were the last people in England to be executed for witchcraft. Three of the four women executed were from Bideford. They were arrested in August 1682, tried at the assizes in Exeter on 14 August and hanged on 25 August. The accusations against them, which today sound like malicious gossip, include causing sickness or death through witchcraft.
Closer view of the Devon Witches plaque attached to the ruined gatehouse of Rougemont Castle. The inscription reads: "The Devon Witches. In Memory of Temperance Lloyd, Susannah Edwards, Mary Trembles of Bideford died 1682, Alice Molland died 1685, the last people in England to be executed for witchcraft tried here and hanged at Heavitree. In the hope of an end of persecution and intolerance."
Closer view of the Devon Witches plaque attached to the ruined gatehouse of Rougemont Castle. The inscription reads: “The Devon Witches. In Memory of Temperance Lloyd, Susannah Edwards, Mary Trembles of Bideford died 1682, Alice Molland died 1685, the last people in England to be executed for witchcraft tried here and hanged at Heavitree. In the hope of an end of persecution and intolerance.”