Page 138 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - England's South Coast

136  ENGLAND ’ S SOUTH C O AST REGION B Y REGION

2 Exeter

Devon’s capital, Exeter, is a lively city with a great deal of
character, despite the World War II bombing that destroyed
much of its centre. Built high on a plateau above the River
Exe, the city is encircled by substantial sections of Roman
and medieval wall, and the street plan has not changed
much since the Romans first laid out what is now the High
Street. Cathedral Close has one of the country’s finest Gothic
churches, and there are atmospheric cobbled streets which
invite leisurely exploration. For shoppers there is a wide
selection of big stores and smaller speciality shops.
Dramatic limestone cliffs abutting the
scenic shingle beach at Beer in Lyme Bay
R Exeter Cathedral Full of relaxed crowds listening
1 Beer 1 The Cloisters. Tel 01392 285973. to buskers perform on the
Open 9am–5pm daily. & 7 5 green, the close surrounding
Devon. Map E5. * 1,300. @ Beer - = ∑ exeter-cathedral.org.uk
Cross. n The Underfleet, Seaton; the cathedral contains a variety
01297 21660. Completed around 1400, the of architectural styles. One of
majestic Cathedral Church the finest buildings here is Mol’s
Set on a fine shingle beach of St Peter is one of the most Coffee House, built in 1596.
backed by white limestone cliffs, gloriously ornamented cathe-
this fishing village derives its drals in Britain. Its West Front is P The Guildhall
name from the old Anglo-Saxon intricately carved with tier upon High St. Tel 01392 665500.
word bearu, which referred to the tier of kings, angels, apostles and Open daily; times vary, call ahead.
woodland that once surrounded prophets – 66 in all, the largest 7 ∑ exeter.gov.uk
the settlement. It is one of the single collection of medieval Among the many historic
few fishing villages figure sculptures in England. buildings that survived World
without a harbour; Inside, breathtaking War II is the magnificent
boats are winched Gothic fan vaulting Guildhall (1330) on the High
out of the sea over sweeps from one Street. It is one of Britain’s
oiled logs to ease end of the church oldest civic buildings and has
their passage. to the other, each functioned as a prison, a court-
Beer is famous join decorated with house, a police station and a
for its local stone, Thomas II locomotive, built in 1979 a unique gilded place for civic functions and
which has been by Roger Marsh, at Pecorama boss – the most celebrations. It still serves as
used in many famous depicts the the meeting place for the
cathedrals, including St Paul’s assassination of Thomas Becket. Mayor and the City Council.
and Westminster Abbey. The The intricately carved misericords,
vast underground complex of dating from 1220–30 and 1250– P St Nicholas Priory
Beer Quarry Caves was mined 60, are the oldest complete set Fore St. Tel 01392 271732. Closed for
from Roman times until the in England. The elephant is espe- restoration. ∑ exeter.gov.uk
1920s. It also provided a place cially well known. A catflap in the Visitors can trace the fascinating
of refuge for Catholics at times door by the clock dates back to history of this 12th-century
of persecution, and an ideal when the cathedral cat was paid Benedictine priory from its
hiding place for smugglers. a penny a week to catch mice. austere monastic beginnings
A key attraction for children
is Pecorama, the home of the
iconic model railway manufac-
turers, Peco. The highlight here is
a ride on a miniature steam train.
 Beer Quarry Caves
Quarry Ln. Tel 01297 680282. Open
Apr–Sep: 10am–4pm daily, Oct: 10am–
3pm daily. & 8 every 30 mins. -
= ∑ beerquarrycaves.co.uk
E Pecorama
Underleys, Seaton. Tel 01297 21542.
Open Apr–Oct: 10am–5pm daily;
Nov–Mar: 10am–5:30pm Mon–Fri,
10am–1pm Sat. 7 partial. 0 -
= ∑ pecorama.co.uk The impressive West Front of the Cathedral Church of St Peter
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p178 and pp189–90

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