Tag: History
Wordless Wednesday
Sunday Post: Reflection
Jake has a beautiful shimmering reflection here created for his Sunday challenge. Maybe you would like to join in or just visit? I have chosen a photo that I took in the City Palace, Jaipur, Rajasthan. I’m the pink reflection in my salwar kameez!
The story goes that Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh II had two of these beautiful giant urns made to take on a voyage to England. He filled them with water from the sacred Ganges because it would be against his religion to drink English water. They could each contain 4000 litres, I hope it was enough to last him! This was in 1901 and they are still the largest sterling silver vessels according to the Guinness book of world records.
Splendid, a Belated Sunday Post
St Stephens was one of several churches built in Exeter after AD 900; it has a distinctive bow and is unusual because it has a crypt. It survived the civil war in the 1640’s untouched, but later in1660 it suffered a fire, and was rebuilt courtesy of the generosity of a Mr George Potter who gave £500, a fortune in those days for its rebuilding. Exeter was a prosperous city, with the church at the heart of the wool and cloth business. A Mrs Back was known to have sold Sassafras tea under the bow to passers-by, how charming that sounds. In the 19th century repairs were carried out, including replacing the pews and the builders discovered remains in the Saxon crypt.
The safety of the west Gallery was debated in the early 20th century, but it was saved from demolition and was later used by the YMCA, when it was packed with worshippers.
Its tower was damaged in1942 but several of the nearby churches were totally destroyed, so once again the church’s congregation grew. In my memory it has been very much a place for the community that has coffee mornings, concerts and art exhibitions. It was in need of restoration and a major fund raising effort was staged – the St Stephens project. More serious war damage than expected was found, and eventually £1.5 million was raised over 9 years. During the rebuild 52 gravestones and an ancient charnel pit were found. The ancient gallery has been recreated and the whole building has become a place of understated beauty. It has survived its 1000 years and is now a valuable legacy for the city.
When I went into town on Saturday it was with Jake’s Sunday Post in mind. Once again I only had my phone camera. I walked down the High Street and something drew me into St Stephens, I hadn’t seen it for a year or two. I’m so glad I stopped, the transformation is staggering, from a pleasant but slightly worn and dim place to one which, I’m sure you will agree, is truly splendid.
My bits of history are from an audio visual presentation in the church. If ever you are in Exeter, add it to your list of places to visit, you never know you may time when there is teas and cake, or a lunchtime recital on offer. Pop over to http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/2012/08/04/sunday-post-splendid/ for some more splendid offerings and have a lovely week everyone.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Inside
I’ve been waiting for a reason to post to show you the inside of Exeter Guildhall. In May there was an exhibition about the 1942 blitz and I popped in for the first time in thirty years. It is believed to have been built around the late 12th century, with a new front in the 16th and the interior was restored in the 19th century. In my photo you can see the windows reflected in the chandelier and some of the exhibition stands.
There will be hundreds of different interpretations of inside over at the Daily Post.
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2012/07/20/weekly-photo-challenge-inside/
Red Ball Comes to Town
The Red Ball Project is street art at its best. It stimulates the imagination of the ordinary person, whether or not they would usually stop to look at art or visit a gallery. So just what is the appeal of a giant rubber beach ball? Its colour? the most passionate, symbolizing love, danger, power, fire and a beneficial sunset. I love to catch the red eye, the overnight coach to an airport. Red is the colour of heat, the fingernails of a confident woman and a woman who wore red shoes wore no knickers! What does red mean to you?
The shape of a ball? A wholeness, as of the earth and the planets surrounding us. Any one of numerous games from the humble marble to the posher polo. Something to reach for, we dance at a ball, maybe on the ball of a foot. A sphere with no beginning or end, tactile and smooth to roll between palms. What image springs to your mind?
RedBall has been travelling the world, Sydney, Barcelona and Taipei and before heading to London it made a brief stop in Exeter. It was seen outside the Guildhall, on the quay and on Saturday I saw it at St Catherines Almshouse, a fifteenth century ruin in the heart of the city. The building, which was bombed in 1942, already has its own urban art, Marking Time, comprising pieces of medieval pottery and glass along with a coke tin that have been enclosed in glass panels is a permanent feature on the site.
When I saw the Big Red Ball I was entranced – but you’ve already guessed that! The artist, Kurt Perschke from Chicago created it to ‘invite you to look afresh at your own surroundings’, I hope you get to see it and look afresh at yours.
You can see the glass panels to the right of the building and behind is the thousand year old tower of St Stephens.
Travel Theme: Secret Places
Secret, well can a place truly be a secret? Maybe if it is deep in a wilderness but otherwise? So my take on Ailsa’s theme is that I’m keeping where my photo was taken a secret. If anyone knows the answer that would be amazing!
I’ll try to remember to reveal the answer when I post for next weeks travel theme.
Meanwhile there will be some secret places here http://wheresmybackpack.com/2012/06/15/secret-places/
Porchester, Ruins Of An English Castle
Porchester castle is on the complex coast around the edge of Hampshire. Built around the 11th century on a site that earlier housed a Roman fort. I visited with my daughter and we couldn’t help wondering about the lives of the many people who had lived there. It had a definite feel, a loud whispering of voices in the total silence. Click on an image for a larger view.
Exeter Cathedral
The word cathedra means seat of a Bishop and the building of Exeter’s began in 1112 on ground that had been used by a religious community since the 7th century. These are the organ pipes, the biggest is 11 metres tall.
The Exeter Astronomical Clock dates from the 15th century and always fascinated me as a child. 
With its complicated workings. 
With angels watching over them, a monument to the 2nd Earl and Countess of Devon, from the 14th century.
A section of tapestry on a bench
and another tomb, this one 19th century, the Macdonalds from the isle of Skye.
An 18th century clergyman
Some little details that I like
This stone screen or pulpitum was built between 1317 and 1325
and the view through is of the Quire.
Above the Quire is the organ in a 17th century case
My favourite part of the cathedral has always been the lady Chapel but today I couldn’t take photos because of a service so this one is courtesy of © Copyright Neil Kennedy and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
A view of the pulpit with the organ in the background
and the detail of the pulpit
Looking high
Some ceiling bosses
The West Front Window
and I saved the best until last, the vault was created as a vision of heaven in the Tierceron style. St Peters has the longest continuous medieval vault in the world, around 96 metres.
So what do you think of Exeter’s glorious cathedral?
I’m adding this photo for http://beeblu.wordpress.com/category/home/ sorry its not very good but you can read a little more about the clock!
The Sunday Post : Culture
Jake’s Sunday post this week is culture – not as easy as you would think, but here is my offering! Pop on over and join in or see how other people have interpreted it.
http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/2012/04/07/sunday-post-culture/
My Chambers Dictionary defines culture as :
The result of cultivation; the state of being cultivated; refinement in manners, thought, taste, etc; loosely, the arts; a type of civilisation; the attitudes and values which inform a society; a crop of micro-organisms, eg bacteria, grown in a solid or liquid medium in a laboratory.
I’ll skip the science and instead show you just a little culture from my city.
A touch of Rock to celebrate World Peace Day
Some Cafe culture, at least three choices in Princesshay Square
Some Cultural heritage provided by history re-inactment
Busking Hip-hop
Last but not least one of the High Street sculptures, 6 metres high, stainless steel and I love it but as always with these installations it has been controversial. Engraved on it are some of the Exeter Riddles, from one of the oldest books of Old English poetry, dating back to the tenth century. To add to the mystery the riddles are engraved backwards to be read in the reflections.
Here are two of the riddles.
Some acres of this Middle Earth are handsomely attired with the hardest, sharpest, most bitter of man’s fine belongings:
It is cut, threshed, couched, kilned, mashed, strained, sparged, yeasted, covered, wracked, and carried far to the doors of men.
A quickening delight lies in this treasure, lingers and lasts for men who, from experience, indulge their inclinations and don’t rail against them; and then after death it begins to gab, to gossip, wrecklessly.
Shrewd men must think carefully must think carefully what this creature is.
Any ideas?
I am a strange creature with various voices.
I can bark like a dog, bleat like a goat, honk like a goose, shreek like a hawk, and at time I imitate the ashen eagle, the battle bird’s cry;
the vulture’s croak trips off my tongue and them mew of the seagull as I sit here saucily.
The capital G suggests my name and AE, R, and O assist it so do H and I. I am called what these six characters clearly spell out.
I’ll come back in a couple of days and add the answers!
Lucid Gypsy 