Themes 3. Exeter Cathedral
Cathedrals have always provided a focus of attention for the antiquary and the tourist and Exeter is no exception. Shown here is a selection of the smaller format engravings which poured from the presses of publishers in London and the provinces in the 18th and 19th centuries and, together with the guidebooks and architectural surveys which they often illustrated, were very influential in providing frames of reference for the appreciation of these great works of architecture.
A booklist follows the series of prints.
Exeter. - [s.l.] : [s.n.], [1780?]. Copper line engraving; 81x117mm. Somers Cocks no. 792.
A copy of an earlier engraving, showing the short spire on the north tower. It is typical of many 17th and 18th century antiquarian images, depicting the building in isolation from its surroundings.
By depicting the Cathedral surrounded by mature trees and with deep shadows, this engraving seeks to bring out the picturesque qualities of the building.
This engraving was issued on the same sheet as three other non-Devon views. It shows the church of St. Mary Major, now demolished, in front of the Cathedral.
This was plate 5 in James Storer's History and antiquities of the cathedral churches of Great Britain, one of a number of works which brought these buildings to the attention of travellers in search of the picturesque.
A feeble representation which attempts to compensate for the poverty of execution by providing a dramatic sky.
This formed plate 96 in H. and B.Winkles's three volume publication Architectural and picturesque illustrations of the cathedral churches of England and Wales, which was published between 1836 and 1842.
This was one of a series of eight lithographic views of Exeter published by William Spreat in about 1840. Spreat was a prolific producer of lithographic views of Devon churches.
Newman was one of the first publishers to introduce the series of small engraved vignette views which became very popular with tourists.
The first in a series of small engraved vignettes issued by the Exeter printer and publisher Henry Besley. These appeared separately, collected in albums, or as illustrations to his guidebooks.
Townsend, George. Exeter Cathedral, west front / G.Townsend del. - Exeter: H.Besley, [1867?]. Steel line engraved vignette; 60x95mm. Somers Cocks 841.
The plate first issued in 1853 was re-engraved to show the rebuilding of St. Mary Major church in the 1860s. Note that the figures in the foreground have been standing in the same spot for more than ten years!
No. 942 in Kershaw's series of vignettes which covered the whole of the country.
William Rock, who was born in Barnstaple, was one of the most prolific publishers of vignettes, his numbering running to about 7,000. Unusually this plate is not numbered or dated and may be a proof.
This is no. 5105 in Rock's series and this copy is dated 14 Jan 1876. It is a reissue of a plate first published in 1864.
Exeter Cathedral. London: Rock and Co., 1876. Steel line engraved vignette; 66x90mm. Somers Cocks 848.
This is no. 5106 in Rock's series and this copy is dated 14 Jan 1876. It is a reissue of a plate first published in 1864 and shows the north side of the Cathedral.
This copy lacks the imprint.
No. 101 in Besley's smaller series of vignettes, issued to accompany the engraving of the exterior.
No. 943 in Kershaw's numbered series.
No. 1728 in this publisher's numbered series.
No. 5334 in Rock's numbered series. This bears the date 14 Jan 1876, but was probably a reissue of a plate first published in the 1860s.
No. 6903 in Rock's numbered series.
The last eight plates, issued in the late 1870s, were among the latest to appear in this form. The place of engravings and lithographs was already being taken by photographic images which made possible a more detailed and accurate record of the architectural features of cathedrals and other historic monuments.
A selective reading list:
The literature of Exeter Cathedral is vast, as is the case with all cathedrals in this country. This list omits most guides as well as periodical articles and unpublished items.
General works:
Hope, Vyvyan and Lloyd, L.J. Exeter Cathedral: a short history and description. Rev ed. (1988)
Exeter Cathedral: a celebration, edited by Michael Swanton (1991). A collection of essays.
Orme, Nicholas. Exeter Cathedral as it was 1050-1550 (1986)
Thurmer, John A. Exeter Cathedral (1991). A recent brief guide.
Ison, David. Exeter (1999). Pilgrim guide.
Thompson, Arthur Huxley. The story of Exeter Cathedral (1933)
Architecture:
Bishop, Herbert Eustace and Prideaux, Edith K. The building of the Cathedral Church of St.Peter in Exeter (1922)
Worth, Thomas B. Exeter Cathedral and its restoration (1878)
Freeman, Philip. The architectural history of Exeter Cathedral. New ed. (1888)
Addleshaw, Percy. The Cathedral Church of Exeter: a description of its fabric and a brief history of the episcopal see. New ed. (1921)
Archives:
Historical Manuscripts Commission Historical manuscripts in various collections. Vol. 4 (1907)
The accounts of the fabric of Exeter Cathedral, 1279-1353 (1981) 2 vol.
Bells:
Ellacombe, Thomas. The bells of the Cathedral Church of St. Peter, Exon. (1874)
Bosses and corbels:
Prideaux, Edith K. Bosses & corbels of Exeter Cathedral (1910)
Swanton, Michael. The roof-bosses and corbels of Exeter Cathedral (1979)
Carvings:
Prideaux, Edith K. Carvings of musical instruments in Exeter Cathedral Church (1915)
Cave, J.C.P. Medieval carvings in Exeter Cathedral (1953)
Glasscoe, Marion and Swanton, Michael. Medieval woodwork in Exeter Cathedral (1978)
Clergy:
Orme, Nicholas. The mionor clergy of Exeter Cathedral 1300-1548 (1980)
The Close:
Lega-Weeks, Ethel. Some studies in the topography of the Cathedral Close, Exeter (1915)
Consecration:
Rose-Troup, Frances. The consecration of the Norman minster at Exeter, 1133 (1932)
Embroidery:
The Exeter rondels (1989)
Government:
Curtis, Muriel E. Some disputes between the city and the cathedral authorities of Exeter (1932)
Library:
Lloyd, L.J. and Erskine, Audrey M. The library of Exeter Cathedral (1967)
Maxted, Ian. Exeter Cathedral Library: a concoradance of medieval catalogues and surviving manuscripts (1987)
Exeter Cathedral Library. A catalogue of the medical books and manuscripts (1934)
Misericords:
Clarke, Kate M. The miseriocords of Exeter Cathedral (1920)
Monuments:
Hewett, John William. A complete monumentarium of the Cathedral Church of St. Peter, Exeter (1849)
Organ:
Matthews, Betty. The organs and organists of Exeter Cathedral (1979)
Registers:
Exeter Cathedral. The registers of the City of Exeter. Vol. 1: The Cathedral (1918)
Stained glass:
Drake, Frederick Morris. Two papers on the ancient stained glass of Exeter Cathedral (1913)
Brooks, Chris and Evans, David. The great east window of Exeter Cathedral: a glazing history (1989)
West front:
Prideaux, Edith K. The figure sculpture of the west front of Exeter Cathedral (1912)
The Cathedral has its own excellent website which includes much architectural and historical information, including biographies of the bishops of Exeter taken from George Oliver's Lives of the bishops of Exeter (1860).
This page last updated 27 October 2017
