Sue and I took the bus into Exeter twice. The second trip we visited the Cathedral which dates from 1050. The architecture, as with all British cathedrals, is magnificent. Unfortunately there was scaffolding up at the entrance hence the exterior side photos.
The cathedral is well known for its misericords, minstrels gallery, astronomical clock and library.
Parliament Street is a 50 metres (160 ft) long street in Exeter. It links the High Street to Waterbeer Street and dates from the 14th century. At about 0.64 metres (25 in) at its narrowest and approximately 1.22 metres (48 in) at its widest, it has been claimed to be the world's narrowest street, although this title actually belongs to the Spreuerhofstraße in Reutlingen, Germany
Above right – Sue at rest after a hard day
The outdoor pool at the caravan site
Yours truly getting in very slowly. Brrr! It was heated, a bit.
We visited two National Trust properties in the second week. At the first Compton Castle you pass this wonderful thatched barn at the entrance.
Compton Castle is more a fortified manor house with high curtain walls, towers and a portcullis. Home for nearly 600 years to the Gilbert family, including Sir Humphrey Gilbert - half-brother to Sir Walter Raleigh.
The front
Part of the rear
We had lunch in the garden and were entertained by this robin.
The second NT property was A la Ronde on the outskirts of Exmouth.
This is a quirky 18th-century house with fascinating interior decoration and collections.
This unique sixteen-sided house has to be visited if you are in the area. It was built for two spinster cousins, Jane and Mary Parminter, on their return from a grand tour of Europe in the late 18th century. It contains many objects and mementoes of their travels.
The extraordinary interior decoration includes a feather frieze, gathered from native game birds and chickens, laboriously stuck down with isinglass. There is also a fragile shell-encrusted gallery, said to contain nearly 25,000 shells. This cannot be visited, because it was being damaged by visitors, so it can now be viewed using a touch screen 360 degree virtual tour.
Diagram of the house
Exterior view
How we used to live – I remember using a jug and ewer when on holiday in Staithes, Yorkshire. Have you used one?
| Looking around these NT houses tires you out | Part of the shell collection, seen from a distance |
Early morning along the Exe estuary
This concludes our September trip away.
Oldie Photo:
Stuart in Holland 1975
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