THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF SAINT PETER IN EXETER THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF SAINT PETER IN EXETER
The picture above shows a small portion of the top surface of the third section.
In 1983 the Cathedral authorities commissioned Marjorie Dyer to design cushioning for the stone plinth which runs along both sides of the nave, at seat-level.
Marjorie Dyer felt that the basic form of the design, into which the historical elements were to be incorporated, should be derived from forms already present in the building. She chose to use rondels, stylized versions of the quatrefoils which, like small decorative windows, are to he found in the stone carving of the balustrade of the triforium. In her design she has made them into windows on history.
The period which she researched is from Roman times, circa A.D. 300, until the visit of Queen Elizabeth II on 31 March (Maundy Thursday) 1983.
Obviously the history of the Cathedral includes some of the history of Exeter itself, which in turn cannot be seen in isolation from the history of England, and so the events depicted are of local, national and ecclesiastical significance.
While relating to the medieval building, the design was to be modern in conception and simple enough to be understood by the majority of visitors. It needed to he both colourful and suitable for its surroundings, Marjorie Dyer spent hours 'sitting in the Cathedral, living with the feel of the place, imbibing the vast history still alive within it, with all its varied detail'.
There are some 720 rondels in the 31 sections of cushioning, carefully fitted to the pilastered bays. The total length is about 72 metres. The sections were made by the Cathedral Tapisers during 1987-1989.
A delightful 16 page book entitled 'The Exeter Rondels' is available from the Cathedral Shop. It details the story of the making of the Rondels and has colour pictures and descriptions of all 31 sections.
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