The choir Exeter Cathedral ([1860?])

Ward and Lock's pictorial and historical guide to South Devon. London and New York: Ward, Lock, and Co., 1888. pp. 18, 21.The Choiris in the centre arch of the screen; and as we enter, we are struck with the splendour of this part of the Cathedral and its fittings. Our attention is first arrested by the beautiful painted glass in the east window, which is all original and in the highest state of preservation. Nineteen whole-length figures of saints, patriarchs, and other celebrated and important personages are here pourtrayed, [sic] together with a variety of armorial bearings. Some of the side-windows also contain rich and curious specimens of ancient stained glass. Having taken in all its details - or as many of them as it is possible to take in, without more minutely examining the window - the eye naturally rests upon - [The Reredos, […].]The Bishop's Throneis one of the most prominent objects in the choir. Constructed by Bishop Stapledon, and put together without a single nail (to which peculiarity, permitting it to be easily removed, it owed its escape from the iconoclastic zeal of Cromwell's troops, for it was taken down and concealed before they got possession of the Cathedral), it is a noble specimen of mediæval workmanship. It stands at the extremity of the stalls on the south side, is of carved oak, and has a pyramidal canopy of open carving, which rises nearly to the height of the vaulting. The design is astonishingly light, and elegant, and the execution of its delicate and varied detail most admirable.The Stalls are new, and elaborately carved with Decorated work. They, too, are constructed of oak, and their seats are formed of the old misereries, which, dating from the early part of the thirteenth century, are amongst the very earliest at present existing in England.[Text may be taken from a different source or edition than that listed as the source by Somers Cocks.]

Steel l.engr vign

83x75mm

No. 1728