EXETER CATHEDRAL 1970s
School Resource Pack

01

Roof and buttresses

Viewed from the South Tower, looking east across part of the west wing of the Bishop’s Palace and into the palace’s garden.

02

Flying buttresses

The flying buttress above the south Quire Aisle, looking south-east.

03

St Gabriel's Chapel - ceiling

04

Bell Tower

The South Tower, viewed from the entrance into the Cloisters. Since 2024, this view has the 'new' east range of Cloisters. The cherry tree on the right, plus some others along the pathway through the Cloisters, were cut down in 2025. The tree on the left is a mulberry tree, and features in a number of 20th century postcards and published photographs.

05

West Front

As the amount of scaffolding indicates, there was an extensive programme of restoration and cleaning of the West Front in 1972.

06

West Front

07

North Tower

The view shows one of the felled elm trees that had to be cut down in the Cathedral Close due to Dutch Elm disease. The Slide Catalogue indicates that several slides of this event of 1972 were made (see above).

08

Lady Chapel - exterior

The Lady Chapel (the left and middle windows) and eastern end of the north Quire Aisle (right window), viewed from the north, looking across an old wall, with doorway, that separates the Close from the Bishop’s Palace garden. The ‘tower-like’ structure in the middle of the photograph is a spiral staircase situated at the eastern end of the Quire Aisle, providing roof access.

Legend has it that the ghost of a nun can sometimes be seen approaching the doorway that leads through the wall and passes through it into the Palace garden.

09

Nave - looking East

10

Nave - looking West

11

North Transept

With the famous astronomical clock on the north wall.

12

Bend in roof

The Nave/Transept crossing viewed from the South Tower, with the curious alignment/bend in the ridge-line of the transept roofs.

13

Inside roof

A view from near the western end of the Nave roof space, with the small window at the eastern end of the Nave visible in the distance. The ‘pits’ of the stone vaulting as it drops down to join the Nave pillars are apparent to the left and right of a central, level walkway. This walkway gives access down the entire Nave, with junctions to the left and right of the Nave/Transept crossing that provide access to the North and South Towers respectively. The cathedral bell-ringers know this pathway well, as it has been the main access to the Ringing Chamber in the South Tower for many years. There used to be a spiral staircase to the chamber up the south-west corner of the South Tower from the floor of the South Transept, but this was filled in during the nineteenth century to strengthen the tower.

During the 1970s and 1980s there used to be a problem with pigeons getting in through gaps in the small window at the eastern end of the roof space and nesting in this area. The resulting build-up of droppings, feathers and dead birds on the floor of this space was significant and the maintenance staff had the very smelly and unpleasant task of regularly cleaning the area with shovels and removing the debris in buckets.

Due to concerns about fire safety and limiting its spread, resulting from investigations of the fire at York Minster in 1984, a series of baffle walls was placed along the Nave roof space. The open, unobstructed view through the entire roof space, shown in the photograph, consequently no longer exists.

14

Woodcarving - Madonna & Child (Flemish c1500)

15

Quire screen

View into the Quire through the doorway in the south Quire Aisle.

16

Elephant misericord

One of the famous medieval hinged seats along the rear row of the Quire stalls, which Gilbert Scott reused in his nineteenth century new wooden Quire stalls.

17

Bishop's chair in sanctuary

18

Bishop's Throne

The throne, situated on south side of the Quire, dates to the fourteenth century. It is one of the greatest pieces of medieval woodwork in Europe.

19

Lady Chapel window

The east window of the Lady Chapel.

20

East window

The large east window above the High Altar in the Quire.

21

St George & Dragon window

Located in St James's chapel, situated off the south Quire Aisle (rebuilt after World War Two bomb damage). Window by Hugh Easton. In memory of Hugh 4th Earl Fortescue (1854-1932), a politician and sportsman, who served as Deputy Lieutenant for Devon and was Lord-Lieutenant of Devon from 1903 to 1928.

22

Head Mason at work
Peter Dare, Master Mason, 1969–1985.

Peter was born in Beer and went to school in Axminster. In 1956 he became an apprentice at Beer Quarry. The quarry closed when he was about 18 and he then worked on old and new buildings from Hampshire to South Wales, eventually coming back to Devon to work on Exeter Cathedral, becoming the master mason in 1969. His work involved re-opening Beer and Salcombe Regis quarries to obtain matching stone to the original. As a freelance he worked on Bradley Manor, Truro Cathedral, the Powder Mills on Dartmoor and much other conservation work.

In 1989 he went to Brisbane, Queensland, to complete the cathedral which had been started in 1906. He finished it in 2006 having to search for suitable local stone, opening a quarry, introducing machinery and training apprentices. In Brisbane as a consultant he also did work for the City Council, Queensland University of Technology, Australia Post, The Catholic Church and many architects."

(From: A talk “From Beer to Brisbane and Back” by Peter Dare. November 20th 2019, Axminster, to the Devonshire Association. https://devonassoc.org.uk/event/from-beer-to-brisbane-and-back-axe-valley-branch/ - accessed 15.5.2025)

23

Head Mason at work
See slide 22

24

Finished head of Bishop

25

An old gargoyle

26

Figure from West Front

A carving from Exeter's famous external image screen on its West Front.

27

Angel from West Front

28

Minstrels' Gallery

Situated on the north side of the Nave, above the doorway to the North Porch.

29

New carvings

30

Roger and his dog - Corbels

Generally thought to be Roger, Master Mason c.1296-c.1310.

31

Corbel in Nave

32

Stone mason's yard

Should really be Stone masons' yard as there are numerous masons.

Situated on the south side of the cathedral near the South Tower.

33

Carving of Arms

34

Mason sawing stone
Unidentified mason

35

Mason's bench

36

Mason's mallet

37

Mallet and Dummy

38

Mason's saw

39

Beer quarry

The quarry is situated in South Devon, near Seaton. It provided some of the stone for building the medieval cathedral. It was reopened in the 1970s to acquire stone for subsequent restoration work.

40

Beer quarry

41

Bishop Bronescombe's tomb c1280

Walter Bronescombe, Bishop of Exeter 1258-1280. Situated on the south side of the Lady Chapel, forming part of the wall between the Lady Chapel and St Gabriel's Chapel.

42

Nave Pulpit

The Martyrs' Pulpit in the Nave was erected in memory of Bishop John Coleridge Patteson who was ordained in Exeter Cathedral and murdered in the Solomon Islands in 1871. The pulpit was designed by Gilbert Scott in the 1870s.

The printed slide catalogue indicates that there was a separate set of slides of the pulpit (see above).

43

St James' Chapel

See slide 21.

44

Chapter House

The eastern side of the Cloisters, with the Chapter House on the right. On the left is a minor doorway into the cathedral, which led via some steps into the South Transept. The door also lay directly in front of what used to be St Saviour's Chapel. This served as the boy choristers' vestry for many years in the second half of the twentieth century, until new facilities were created for them in the area of the West Wing of the Bishop's Palace in 2012. The room then became a storage cupboard. It was converted into a kitchen as part of the Cloister development in 2024.

45

Chapter House - ceiling

46

Spyhole in Chapter House door
Third Virger, Euan Crawshaw. Euan spent a gap year (1971–1972) as a virger before going to university (with thanks to Alan Drew and Clive Dickinson for the identification and information). He became a fine artist, with a 1975  Exeter Cathedral print auctioned in 2022 (https://auctionet.com/sv/2416029-ewan-crawshaw-exeter-katedralen accessed 19.5.2025).

Euan’s father was Harry Crawshaw, Head Sidesman for many years during the 1970s and 1980s. Harry’s wife Constance was in charge of coffee-making in the Chapter House for the congregation and choir after the Sunday morning 9.45 Eucharist (and for the choir a welcome break before they sang Matins at 11.15).

47

The forge

Situated in the South Tower below the Ringing Chamber. It has direct access to the roof, via the door seen on the right. It conveniently facilitated melting and preparing lead for the roofs.

48

High Altar and Exeter Pillar

Situated at the east end of the Quire. The area was reworked in 2023-2024 as part of the general renovation of the Quire, to provide safe standing on the eastern side of the altar and storage.

49

Clergy robed for ordinary Sunday
Harry Rann. Dean’s Chaplain and Priest Vicar  (1962–77); Sacristan (1965–77); Succentor (1973–77); Prebendary (1984–87). (ref. Church Times 17.2.2017)

The green robe and cloth on top of the altar are appropriate for Trinity.

Photographed in the Lady Chapel.

50

Old clock works

Situated on the floor of the North Transept. It was in use until the early 2000s. It used to ring the quarter hours, with much preceding mechanical noise and whirring. This often intruded into BBC broadcasts and recording sessions.

51

Cathedral clock

Situated on the north wall of the North Transept (see slide 11).

52

Organ

Standing proud and high on the Quire Screen. There are additional very deep bass pipes in the South Transept. At the time of the photograph, there was also a trumpet militaire in the room immediately behind the Minstrels' Gallery. This was referred to as "the expensive cheap-sounding stop" by the Organist Lucian Nethsingha. It was notorious for going out of tune, especially if the Great West doors were opened and let in a blast of colder or hotter air than was in the Nave. During the last main organ renovation in 2013, a much larger section of organ was installed in the room behind the Minstrels' Gallery, with several ranks of pipes and a new blower. The enlargement meant that the whole choir could no longer fit into the room on Christmas Day for singing carols during evensong; instead, just some senior choristers and a few adults sing from there.

53

At the organ
David Thorne. He was Organ Scholar at the Cathedral and organ pupil of Paul Morgan, Assistant Organist at the time (see below). David went on to Portsmouth Cathedral as Assistant Organist (1978–1999) and then Organist of Portsmouth’s Roman Catholic cathedral (2000–2006).

During the academic singing year 1971–1972, Lionel Dakers, the Organist and Master of the Choristers (since 1999, and the appointment of Andrew Millington, the role has been known as The Director of Music, with the former role of Assistant Organist being called The Organist), took a sabbatical period as an examiner for The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), in what was then Rhodesia (Zimbabwe since 1980). It is now uncertain whether the sabbatical was for a term or six months during 1972. Paul Morgan, as Assistant Organist (1969-1999; Organist 1999–2010), was in charge for that term, with David playing the organ.

Since David is shown playing the organ in this slide and in slide 70 Paul is seen directing the choir, both this and slide 70 could have been taken during Lionel’s sabbatical term. This timing also probably explains why Lionel Dakers does not feature in any of the slides or recorded interviews in the education pack; he is not even mentioned by name anywhere. Since he was the Organist, and directly in charge of the cathedral’s music, it would have been natural for him to have appeared.

Slides 53 and 70 were probably taken on the same occasion, as David is playing from one of the typical buff-coloured, card-bound copies of choral music used by the choir (during the 1970s, much of the recently purchased music was stitch-bound in buff, red or grey card covers, with calligraphic hand-lettering on the covers by Clive Dickinson – he is shown in slide 70 – they are still  in use, 2025). Using image enhancement of the photo, it is only possible to establish that the piece has two music systems of four lines for SATB and three lines of organ on each page; the actual piece is uncertain.

With thanks to Clive Dickinson for identifying David and for information, and to Heather and Paul Morgan for information. Refs:

• https://www.organ-biography.info/index.php?id=Thorne_David_c1951
• https://davidthornemusic.com/

(websites accessed 16.5.2025)

54

Library

The library as it used to be before 2013, when this area of the West Wing of the Bishop’s Palace underwent significant remodelling. The portion shown in the photograph became a large clergy vestry (to become known as The Sacristy) and (in the part where the photographer is standing) a Song School for the girl choristers. The library itself was moved downstairs into an area formerly occupied by the Diocesan Offices, which had moved across to the Old Deanery.

55

Langton Brass

The brass is situated in the Chapel of St Mary Magdalen, at the eastern end of the north Quire aisle. William Langton was a Canon of Exeter (died 1413).

56

Rubbing a brass
Unidentified boy

57

Rubbing a brass
Unidentified man

58

Rooftop view of Cathedral Close

Looking north from the South Tower, with the white front of the Clarence Hotel clearly visible at the edge of the Close. The hill occupied by the University of Exeter forms the skyline above the hotel.

59

People in the Cathedral Close

Benches in use at the east end of the Cathedral Close, essentially behind where the photographer was standing for slide 8. The white-topped railings visible on the left of the slide are those of the gate that closes this part of the Close. The red-stone side of Hall House (part of the Cathedral School since the 1980s) is behind the white lamp-post just to the left of the large bush on the right-hand side of the slide.

60

Visitors in the Cathedral

A photograph taken looking east down the north Quire aisle. No information is provided about the exhibition that is being looked at by the visitors.

61

The Dean of Exeter
Marcus Knight, dean 1960–1972. Photographed in the Deanery garden (now the Old Deanery, the deanery having moved to 10 The Close in the early 2000s).

62

The Dean of Exeter

63

Arms on Dean's chair in Chapter House

64

The Head Virger
Ronald (known as Ron) Melhuish (1919–1979), head virger 1962–1979; he died in post. A very tall man; appropriately a former guardsman, who fought in the Second World War. His wife Mary (1920–2009) was a very active member of the flower arranger team. Both are buried in St Paul’s chapel, North transept.

Tom Cameron was promoted to head virger on the death of Ron Melhuish. He went to Sheffield in 1980 or 1981 as a virger and then to St Paul’s, London to become Canons’ Virger. He is now a retired priest in London.

(with thanks to Alan Drew, virger first appointed in October/November 1972 - he cannot remember exactly which month! - and a current virger, for supplementing my own memories. Also ref. Exeter Cathedral News, April 2019, p. 15 https://www.exeter-cathedral.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/April-2019-News.pdf accessed 19.5.2025)

65

The Head Virger
See slide 64

66

The Head Chorister
Unidentified

67

The Head Chorister
Unidentified

68

The Head Chorister’s medal
The banner below the shield of St Peter reads: DUX CANTORUM (leader of the singers)

69

The Choir School
The Chantry in Palace Gate. The sign on the left-hand gate post reads ‘The Cathedral School’. Now known as ‘Exeter Cathedral School’, still based in this building (plus other buildings around the Close).

70

Choir practice
In the Quire. Photographed from the organ loft; probably at the same time as slide 53. The director is Paul Morgan (Assistant Organist - see slide 53). Names of the choir (left to right):

Cantoris (left side of slide)
Adults: arm of probably Arthur Folland (alto secondary); Clive Dickinson (alto choral scholar); Ralph Price (tenor lay vicar and Punctator); ?; Brian Hann (bass lay vicar)
Choristers: ?

Decani (right side of slide)
Adults: (with back to camera) Tony Ransome (alto, who left the choir in the summer of 1972; Clive Dickinson then moved across to Decani); Ron Kitchen (tenor lay vicar); ?, Don Calloway (bass secondary); ?
Choristers: ?

(with thanks to Clive Dickinson for help with names and for information)

As two adult Sunday Secondaries are shown in the photo, it probably means the picture was taken during a Saturday morning rehearsal (9.00–10.15 am), when the Sunday music was rehearsed. This is likely to have been during the term when Lionel Dakers was on sabbatical (see above).

71

A school choir at practice
Boys of Exeter Cathedral School. There were no girl pupils until the 1990s. The conductor and the staff member at the near end of the Nave stalls are uncertain. Paul Morgan was also director of music at the school at this time, so it is likely to be him conducting. There were few female members of staff in the school at that time, but Denise Winters was a residentiary house master, and her hair style, height and build would match the woman in the photograph.

72

Guide showing clock to visitor
The ‘guide’ is actually Second Virger, Ron Vincent. He was Second Virger until early 1972, succeeded by Tom Cameron. The ‘visitor’ is Ron’s wife Christine. She was a secretary in the Cathedral Office. This slide is consequently a posed shot of staff available at the time.

73

Bellringers' room

The Ringing Chamber, in the South Tower. For the route to this, see slide 13.

74

The bells

At the top of the South Tower. The second heaviest peel in the UK, the first being Liverpool.

There is also a single bell in the North Tower. This is the clock bell. It is also rung by a long rope descending to the floor of the North Transept, to mark evening curfew/when the cathedral is closing (one ring per the number of days of that month).

75

A bell

76

The Exeter Book

A large, 10th century codex of Old English poetry. One of the cathedral's most important treasures.

77

Fins of bomb which hit cathedral

Remains of one of the bombs that struck the south side of the cathedral in 1942.

78

Pigeons on windows

A curious and amusing slide to be included. Pigeons were a significant problem in the Close and for the cathedral (see slde 13). Several times I experienced a pigeon flying through the cathedral during a service or rehearsal. This would always cause much mirth amongst the choristers (and some of the adults too!). On one occasion the Director of Music, Andrew Millington (1999–2015), was so annoyed at the boys laughing and being distracted during a rehearsal that he yelled at them: “Have you never seen a pigeon flying through the cathedral before”. That simply produced more laughter from the adults!

Such ‘internal’ pigeons used to be encouraged to leave the building by the virgers laying a trail of corn through the west end of the nave and out through the Great West door – the bird would simply eat its way out!

The pigeons used to be fed by an eccentric old lady pushing a bike. She regularly came into the Close and scattered corn on the ground. It was rather like the scene at St Paul’s in Mary Poppins. I don’t remember seeing her after the 1980s.

The pigeon problem soon declined in the late 1980s when peregrine falcons settled in 1988 on the nearby church of St Michael’s. The falcons are still around, but very few pigeons remain.