EX'ETER. A city, civic county, Parliament ary and municipal borough, and river port, the capital of Devonshire, England. on the Exe, 10 miles northwest of its mouth. 170 miles west southwest of London, and 7:3 miles southwest of Bristol (Map: England, C (1). It is a quaint old town, picturesquely situated on a hill amid hills. Its principal edifice is the cathedral, be gun in 1100 and famed for the beauty of its design and the richness of its decorations.. Its distinguishing external features are the two transeptal towers, a unique conception in Eng lish cathedrals, dating from the early part of the twelfth century, and the beautifully ornamented west front added in the fourteenth century. The dimensions are 408 feet in length by 140 feet across the transepts. The interior is nota ble for its fine proportions and perfect sym metry. Its special features are the carved min strels' gallery, the bishop's throne with a lofty spire-like canopy, the sculptured stone choir screen, and the modern reredos. Many of the monuments are well worthy of notice. The chap ter-house. with a magnificent ceiling, contains a fine library, and among many valuable ancient manuscripts is Leofrie's celebrated book of Saxon poetry. In the cathedral close are the episcopal palace and deanery.
High Street contains many ancient buildings, the finest being the Guildhall, dating from the fifteenth century, whose upper story projects over the sidewalk and forms an arcade supported by pillars. On an eminence near one of the railway stations are the ruins of Rougemont Castle, built by William the Conqueror. and remains of the ancient city walls. Part of the castle grounds now constitutes .Northernhay Park. Among other buildings are Saint John's Hospital, founded in the reign of Henry 111., the Albert Memorial Mu seum, opened in ISGS. the Victoria Hall, lunatic asylum, and almshouses. Exeter has not been backward in municipal enterprise. It owns its water-supply and an electric plant. It main
talus a technical college, public library and museum, public baths and wash-houses, parks, municipal band, an asylum, markets, a septic tank system of sewage treatment, and a ceme tery. It sends one member to Parliament. Exe ter has a large floating ship-basin, a ship-canal extending to Topsham, and extensive rock-hewn wine-vaults bordering its quay. It carries on a considerable shipping trade, the value of its an imal imports exceeding $500,000. Exeter has un surpassed nurseries, and exports dairy, farm, and orchard produce. Its chief manufactures are gloves and agricultural implements. It is the chief market for the celebrated Honiton lace. Exeter is on the Great Western and the London and South Western railways. Population, in 1891, 45,600; in 1001, 46,900.
In early times Exeter, the Crier Ise of the Britons, was most probably an important centre of trade with the Greeks and Pluenieians. To the Romans it was known as Isea Damnoniorum. Exeter was for a long time the centre of British resistance to the Anglo-Saxon invaders, and in 926. when Athelstan visited Exanceaster, he found it inhabited by British and Saxons alike. .\ thelstan surrounded the town with walls, so that it withstood an attack of the Danes in 1001. Two years later, however, they returned and plundered the town. In 1050 as afford ing greater security, replaced Crediton as the episcopal see of Devonshire. The city was taken by the Conqueror in 1068. and by Stephen in 1137. During the Middle Ages it had n very important woolen trade, hut later lost it. During the Civil Wars it was held by the Royalists from 1643 to 164(1, when it surrendered to Fairfax. Consult: Oliver. History of Exeter (Exeter, 1821) ; id., Lives of the Bishops of Exeter um) History of the Cathrdr(fl I.Ondon. 1861-81) ; Freeman. History of Exeter (London. 1890).