A la Ronde

.....is a unique little building in Devon with fine views looking out over the countryside towards the Exe estuary. 

It was built in 1796 to a design conceived by the maiden cousins Jane and Mary Parminter in order to house their shell collection.  

The cousins designed this unusually shaped 16 sided building originally with a thatched roof. The most important consideration for them was to ensure that they gained as much possible natural light throughout the day into the top of the building. 

They busied themselves every day creating a shell gallery in the upper lantern room using their very large collection of shells, feathers, sand, seaweed, and crushed minerals.

The Parminter family had very extensive business interests - Jane was born in 1750 in Portugal where her father owned a wine export company. Independent wealth gave both of these women an unusual amount of freedom for that period in time.

They both set off together on a Grand Tour and it is considered that they may have been travelling for around four years. There was no set time or programme to a Grand Tour and four years or even longer was quite normal. 

It is likely that Jane and Mary conceived the idea of their own shell gallery following a visit made to the shell grotto on the island of Isola Bella in Lago Maggiore, Italy.

Sadly, now over 300 years old, it is no longer possible to actually see their shell craftwork - it is far too fragile for many visitors to walk around the narrow gallery.

looking up to the shell gallery

However, luckily I can still remember visiting it as a child, my parents brought me here whilst holidaying in Devon. It is now only viewable from a 3D screen, but that does not negate in anyway from the pleasure of being in such a delightful little building. 

The shell gallery via National Trust

The Walk

It's early morning in a Devon valley. 

Birds twitter amongst a labyrinth of twigs in the newly manicured hedge.

The peace and quiet is suddenly shattered by the clattering sounds of a tractor trundling down the lane.

A mother and her lambs view us with curiosity.

A thousand year old barn 

with it's very own watchmen. They honk at us with a loud warning 'do not venture here'.

This Devon Longhouse was built in 825AD when it began life as a nunnery along with a small farm. It has traditional cob walls, a thatched roof and inglenook fireplaces. In 1086 it was one of nine small holdings mentioned in the Domesday Book as belonging to the Abbey of Buckfast in the Manor of Trusham. 

Here we stop and step inside, a hearty Devon breakfast awaits us.

Unusual Weather Patterns

During the last quarter of March 2018 we anxiously awaited the arrival of the "Beast from the East". When he came he brought snow, and in his wake I took the following photograph - we were lucky in our area as we only saw a light scattering of snow.

 "The Beast" created a chilly scene and there were very few signs of Spring.

We have just returned from a trip to Devon during the same March period as last year. In comparison the skies were blue, it was very warm, and the sun shone every day.

All of these plants were photographed on the 25th March 2019. They were either growing wild on the banks of Devon country lanes or in two gardens visited.

However, there is something very strange going on here - I wonder if you have noticed it too? 

Why are plants that normally bloom several weeks apart flowering at the same time?  I can only assume that it must be the result of the long hot 2018 summer followed by the mild winter, or is it climate change? 

Exeter Cathedral

The carved bosses and corbels in Exeter Cathedral are amongst the finest examples of English Decorated Gothic architecture, a form of architecture that flourished in England for 100 years from 1270. The largest boss weighs in at over two tons; each one is different and decorated with either human figures, biblical stories, or naturalistic forms. The replica boss shown above gives a unique opportunity to view one of them close up and a chance to appreciate the intricate detail. Dated 1300, it shows a knight and three dragons signifying the Christian soul trampling on the world, the flesh, and the devil

 Most of the corbels along the nave show a naturalistic style or have a single figure - each one is different

 

On the north wall of the north transept is a large, blue faced astronomical clock, donated by Bishop Peter Courtenay towards the end of the C15th. A fleur-de-lys represents the sun's cycles around a 24 hour dial, with noon at the top and midnight at the bottom. The moon's phases are shown and the day of the lunar month can be read from the inner ring. The golden globe in the centre represents the earth.

Inside the mechanism are ropes which used to be greased by fat. The fat attracted mice who ran up and down the clock ropes - hence the nursey rhymn 'Hickory Dickory Dock' is thought to have been based on this clock.

via 

The Pulpit was designed in 1876 by George Gilbert Scott, and shows the martyrdoms of St. Alban, St. Boniface and the Victorian missionary Bishop John Coleridge Patteson

A pair of finely wrought golden gates lead into the
quire (choir)

Most of the present Cathedral was constructed 1270 - 1342

However the two towers date from an earlier Norman Cathedral which was demolished to make way for the present building.

one of the two stout Norman towers

The impressive light and airey interior has the longest Gothic ceiling in the world

The West window sparkles like a jewel. It was designed by William Peckitt of York (1731-95) arguably the most important glass designer of the C18th

 The organ is an historical instrument of international significance, but is far from being a museum piece. It is a working instrument used day in and day out in the way it was intended to by its creator John Loosemore in 1665.

The properties ajacent to the Cathedral on the northern side in Cathedral Close are mostly over 500 years old. Many, like the one above, belong to the Cathedral. This one is entered via an impressive doorway.

On this sunny, late November weekend, a typical 'German Style' Christmas Market was being held on the Cathedral green with stalls from all over the Continent

Rather fancifully, Mol's is said to have been the haunt of Elizabethan seafarers Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh, where they met to discuss their victory over the Armada. It was built in 1528 to house the Cathedral Annuellars. The facade seen here was added in 1596. Annuellars were priests who attended to the last wishes of benefactors to the Cathedral.

This Italian chocolate stall at the Christmas Market caught my eye, but I averted my gaze and walked on 

Spent the weekend in the city of Exeter, Devon, but next time it will be back to travels from Turkey