Farewell

I said farewell to my hosts on 7th September after a great couple of weeks.  Thankyou both very much.

Exeter Cathedral - Bishop Bronscombe

The tomb of Bishop Bronscombe, between the Lady Chapel and the Chapel of St Gabriel is the finest in the cathedral.

Bishop Walter Bronscombe - known as Walter the Good - became Bishop of Exeter in 1257 and probably attended the consecration of Salisbury Cathedral in 1258. This is thought to have inspired him to rebuild Exeter on a larger scale in Gothic style. The present building is largely the result of his plans. He died in 1280.

In the background can be seen the effigy of Bishop Stafford on the other side of the Lady Chapel in a similar gilded monument.

His effigy in black basalt has survived with its original painted colouring.    The bishop is shown wearing the magnificent robes of a prelate of his time.

An angel carries his shield.

The brilliantly gilded monument is later than the effigy itself, having been made in the Fifteenth Century.

Dolbury Hillfort

Dolbury Hillfort, on the Killerton Estate, was built on a volcanic stone outcrop and was used by Iron Age settlers between 400 BC and 43 AD.

The hilltop was enclosed with a high earth bank and surrounding ditch.

The hill was landscaped in the seventeenth century and the tree clad the summit is known locally as The Clump.

The hill has views across the Devon countryside as far as Cadbury Hill n North Somerset.

As Helen and I discovered, the embankment is not something one can run up n a hurry!

Flowers at Frog End

Killerton House - Hannah More

This painting in Killerton House is of Hannah More and is by H. W. Pickersgill.

Hannah More (2 February 1745 – 7 September 1833) was an English religious writer, Romantic and philanthropist. She can be said to have made three reputations in the course of her long life: as a poet and playwright in the circle of Johnson, Reynolds and Garrick, as a writer on moral and religious subjects, and as a practical philanthropist. I have read her biography and a number of her works and she is a fascinating character.

Exeter Cathedral - Roofs

The bosses in the roof of the nave inspire people to look up but I wonder how many folk notice the other roofs in the cathedral,  This is the Lady Chapel Roof

The roof of the South transept.

The Chapter House roof.

A Fifteenth Century angel in the Chapter House roof.

The roof of the Chqpel of St John the Evangelist.

Killerton House - the grounds

The grounds or Killerton House contain some magnificent trees and there are views over the Devon countryside.

The toilets are housed in the former dairy.

The bark of a Snake Bark Mqple.

These two Tulip Trees are champion trees - i.e. the largest of their kind in the country.

Autumn Crocus.

In 2002 this Giant Redwood had a diameter of 7 feet and a height of 125 feet.

Cones forming on a Cryptomeria japonica.

A tall specimen of Tsuga heterophylla.

Where sheep may safely graze.

Comon Frog.

Giant Polypore (Meripilus giganteus).

Dovecote.