 xeter Cathedral is different in design to the other cathedrals in England. One of the most striking features of the cathedral are the two towers that act as the transepts. This means that there is no central tower commonly found in designs elsewhere. Also unusual is that fact that the nave and the choir at Exeter are of equal length. There is no crossing and no need for the extra large piers at the centre of the cathedral that are usually required to take the weight of the central tower. This allows the ceiling vaulting to continue unbroken to the High Alter. In 1050 Edward the Confessor had the location of the See of Devon and Cornwall moved from Crediton in Cornwall to Exeter some seven miles away. There was an existing Benedictine monastery at Exeter and it was into this building that Leofric moved. In 1107, William Warelwast became the second bishop at Exeter. Six or seven years after his arrival he decided to rebuild the cathedral in the Romanesque style. All that remains of the cathedral from Warelwast's time are the two transept towers. Bishop Marshall occupied the See from 1174 to 1208 and built a Lady Chapel. The Chapter-house was build by Bishop Breuer in the first half of the thirteenth century. Major rebuilding work began from 1258 under the control of Bishop Bronescombe who had been impressed by a visit to the new cathedral at Salisbury. Bronescombe was followed by Bishop Quivil whose overall reconstruction plan was followed by successive bishops. Between 1292 and 1307 Bishop Bitton rebuilt the choir. The smaller choir transepts, rood screen and sedilia were all constructed between 1308 and 1326 under Bishop Stapledon. The nave was completed under Bishop Gransisson between 1327 and 1369. The east window, west front and cloister were built between 1370 and 1394. During the fouteenth century, the Chapter-house was heightened and the nave reglazed. The cathedral was consecatred in December of 1380. |
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