Exeter Cathedral Devon

Exeter Cathedral, Exeter, Devon

History | Access | Cathedrals in Britain

Exeter Cathedral in the centre of Exeter is one of England’s most beautiful churches.

The cathedral front is one of the most beautiful in England

History

Set between the lovely streets of Cathedral Close and Cathedral Place and fronted by a grassy square, the Cathedral Church of St. Peter was begun in 1114 by the Normans. The sturdy, rather squat cathedral towers also date from the Norman period.

Great West Front, Exeter Cathedral, Exeter, Devon

The Great West Front

Gothic Architecture

The cathedral was remodelled in a decorative Gothic style over a century beginning in 1270 by Bishop Walter Bronescombe.

Influenced by the architecture of nearby Salisbury Cathedral, the church was built using local stone, including fine Purbeck Marble.

Norman Tower

Great West Front

The entrance is through the magnificent Great West Front and the carved figures above the door represent the largest collection of 14th century stone carving in the UK.

The weathered figures include those of Alfred the Great, Athelstan, Canute, William the Conqueror, as well as King Richard II and were originally painted in bright colours.

The beautiful 96 meter-long ceiling vaulting is another first – the longest, continuous Gothic ceiling in the world.

Norman Tower

Exeter Clock

The 15th century Exeter Clock in the north transept is a fine example of a medieval astronomical clock. The clock is in full working order and chimes every hour to this day.

The cathedral was damaged during the English Civil War (1642-1646) and also again in World War II (1939-1945) being painstakingly repaired each time.

The historic cathedral in Exeter

Access – Getting There

Exeter Cathedral (exeter-cathedral.org.uk)
1 The Cloisters
Exeter
EX1 1HS
UK
Tel: 01392 285 983 (Visitors’ officer)
Hours: 9.30 am – 5 pm

Cathedral Close

A donation of 4 GBP is recommended for visitors. There are also free guided tours from March to October at the following times:

Monday to Friday, 11.00 am, 12.30 pm* and 2.30 pm
Saturday, 11 am and 12.30 pm*

* only during July, August, and September

Read more on the history and design of the cathedral in Exeter.

Aerial view of the cathedral

Accommodation in Exeter

Exeter offers a range of accommodation options to suit all budgets and tastes. Choose from a range of hotels and guest houses in Exeter including the four-star Mercure Exeter Southgate Hotel, the four-star Southernhay House Hotel, and Jurys Inn Exeter, also a four-star hotel.

See here for a complete list of accommodation in Exeter.