Exeter

The ancient Norman St Nicholas Priory is only open on Mondays, which is why we went to Exeter today.  

We take a bus to the Axminster train station.

We stopped at a Co-Op store to pick up lunch fixings, which we promptly eat when we get on the train.

St Nicholas Priory

Today the Priory is a museum, reflecting an Elizabethan town house. It's the oldest standing building in Exeter. The cellar (above) dates from early Norman. How cool is that?!

An ancient casket, probably circa 1300s. The body would have been wrapped in lead first.

Huge kitchen. The fireplace on the left would have been used as a spit to roast large beasts. The other would be used for porridge and suet and whatever else wasn't a beast.

Just off the bedroom...a toilet!

The hole would lead down to a pit where some unlucky chap had the job to shovel it up .

The tiny door to the left of the main door leads to a tiny circular stairwell.

​The City Wall

The wall that surrounds Exeter, much of which still stands, is 2,000 years old. The Romans started it around 55 AD, the Saxons added on, the Normans improved, which is why in many places different stones and techniques can be seen. 

This gatehouse was built by William the Conqueror (well, probably by his men).

Exeter Cathedral

Cute Old Houses