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Conservation of the Cathedral

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Exeter Cathedral was founded in 1050, and the construction of a Cathedral on the present site began in 1114. The two towers and the lower part of the Nave walls of this Norman (Romanesque) building survive in the present Cathedral. A major rebuild, in Decorated Gothic style, was carried out under six bishops between c.1270 and c.1350.

Carefully conserving and restoring this ancient place requires a significant programme of ongoing major works, carried out where possible by a team of skilled stonemasons under the guidance of Clerk of Works, Chris Sampson. Traditional techniques and original materials are used wherever possible.

Exeter Cathedral is a proud member of the Cathedrals’ Workshop Fellowship – a UK education charity safeguarding heritage craft skills through training and partnerships. Working with 14 member cathedrals, CWF delivers accredited pathways for craftspeople, supervisors, and future leaders in built environment conservation.

 

Some of our recent, current and future projects are detailed below.

Quire

Lead Roof
Cresting

Completed in 2014 a cost of £70,000.

Cloister Gallery

Restoring the Statue
of St Vladimir

Chapter House

Conservation of the
West Front

In 2016 a specialist survey (carried out every five years) examined the state of any remaining colouring (the original polychrome) as well as investigating the condition of the carved statues.

Misericords

Important 13th century tip-up seats in need of conservation.

South Quire
Clerestory

The Cathedral stonemasons have commenced the repair and conservation of the stonework and glazing to three bays of the South Quire 'Clerestory'.

A New Roof for the
Chapel of St Andrew
and St Catherine

Including work on the internal masonry and stained glass. Completed in 2015 at a cost of £280,000.

Restoring the
East Gable

A major project which includes new corbels and a new pinnacle.

A Medievel Quarry
Provides Materials

Return to 'Our Story'

Quire

We want to make sure that our Quire is here for generations to come and welcoming to all.

A more efficient underfloor heating system and improvements to the High Altar have made the Cathedral a safer and more comfortable place for services, community gatherings and events, helped preserve our heritage and will also shrink our carbon footprint going forward. This new system is now in place, and the new Jubilee Pavement floor design has been installed. The Jubilee Pavement is based on the design by 19th century architect, Sir George Gilbert Scott that was removed during conservation work in the 1960s.

The essential conservation work in Exeter Cathedral Quire has been funded by our 2020s Development Appeal Project and generously supported by Valencia Communities Fund. 

Images by Acanthus Clews and Marvin Chik.

Lead Roof Cresting

An extensive project to repair and reset lead crestings along the Cathedral roof was completed in 2014.

The leadwork, comprising over 400 single pieces, each in the shape of a fleur de lys, is a unique feature of the Cathedral’s roof. Over the centuries some of it had slipped and there was a significant risk of lead falling from the roof.

Work was carried out to remove and examine each piece, and cost £70,000. Part of the project was funded by the First World War Centenary Cathedral Repairs Fund.

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Cresting-02

Cloister Gallery

 Our new Friends’ Cloister Gallery has replaced the original medieval cloisters, which were demolished in 1656. The new Cloister Gallery was built upon the medieval foundations and provides visitors with a covered walkway connecting the Cathedral with its Chapter House and Pearson building. It is the first major construction to be added to the Cathedral since the Pearson building was completed in the late 19th century.

The building of the new cloister has been funded by Exeter Cathedral’s 2020s Development Appeal and supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. 

The new structure is named the Friends’ Cloister Gallery in recognition of the extremely generous grant of £1 million that was given to the project by the Friends of Exeter Cathedral. 

Restoring the Statue of St Vladimir

Stonemasons working at Exeter Cathedral finished restoring a damaged statue from one of the building’s war memorials, just in time for the commemorations of the centenary of the Armistice.

The statue of St Vladimir, one of a group depicting the patron saints of the western allies from the First World War, was dislodged from the north side of the medieval building during a late-night act of vandalism in July 2018.

Originally installed in 1920, it has been painstakingly restored and cleaned, and was fixed back onto the ‘north porch’ of Exeter Cathedral.

Restoration work included a complete reconstruction of the halo, and reattachment of the head, both of which were badly damaged. The Cathedral’s stonemasons also took the opportunity to clean the stonework, before the statue was reattached. The work was partly funded by donations from members of the public, and was inspected by the Dean of Exeter, the Very Revd Jonathan Greener, before scaffolding was removed.

The statue removed to the stonemasons' yard.
The statue removed to the stonemasons' yard.
Newly restored and mounted on the North Porch.
Newly restored and mounted on the North Porch.
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Close-up showing some of the damage.
Close-up showing some of the damage.
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The Chapter House

The Chapter House built about 1227, and comprehensively remodelled in the 15th century, is one of the Cathedral’s finest spaces. However essential work was needed to improve its lighting, heating and access.
 
The construction of a glass inner porch allows the big oak doors of the Chapter House to be left open. This provides a heat and sound barrier, enabling people to see in, even when a gathering is in process, and automatic doors allow access for all.
 
The underfloor heating installed in the 1970’s has been renewed, and separated from the main Cathedral boilers, so that it can function independently. Harsh fluorescent lighting has been replaced with something more sympathetic and more effective. 
 
The work to the interior of the Chapter House was funded by our 2020s Development Appeal Project and has been generously supported by Benefact Trust, Dulverton Trust, Golden Bottle Trust, Masonic Charitable, Provincial Masons, and Valencia Communities Fund.
 
The Exeter Cathedral stonemasons have also carried out essential conservation work on the exterior of the Chapter House. They carefully cleaned and repointed the existing stonework and also identified parts that needed to be replaced before carving replacement stonework using materials that match the existing masonry. This work was funded by our 2020s Development Appeal Project and has kindly been supported by the Headley Trust. 
 
The Chapter House is now home to Exeter Cathedral’s Chapter House Café, serving hot and cold refreshments.

Conservation of the West Front

The West Front Image Screen of Exeter Cathedral is one of the great architectural features of Medieval England. The addition of the image screen around 1340 marked the completion the re‑building of the cathedral in the Gothic style. Work continued on the screen with the additional top tier completed about 1470.

In 2016 a specialist survey (carried out every five years) examined the state of any remaining colouring (the original polychrome) as well as investigating the condition of the carved statues.
This survey informed a phased programme of works around the following areas:

  • Non-invasive cleaning of the polychrome areas.
  • Repairs to the statues with lime mortar to prevent water from pooling around the stonework and, where possible, halt further decay. To prevent the mortar from drying out too quickly and failing, cotton wool was used around these repair sites.
  • Application of a sheltercoat to protect the image screen from the weather.

The work was carried out by the Cathedral’s own stonemasons, supported by The Prince of Wales who made a donation through The Prince of Wales’ Charitable Foundation.

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Misericords

The back rows of the 19th century choir stalls contain 49 medieval tip-up seats known as ‘misericords’. They were carved in the mid 13th century and form one of the oldest surviving sets in England.

During Sir George Gilbert Scott’s reordering of the Cathedral in the 19th century, the ancient misericords were incorporated into the new choirstalls (the third such time that they have been rehoused). These new seat boards are flexing when sat upon as they are too thin, and this is forcing the misericords to either bend with the seat board or break the joint with the seat board. These seats have been in constant use, so every day the joints have been tested.

The misericords are detaching from the new seat boards and some are now splitting. As a number of misericords have already been reglued, this indicates that the misericord has detached either completely or to a dangerous extent. The same fate can be expected of a number of others.

A programme of specialist conservation is now required to save this significant part of the Cathedral from further damage and use of these seats has been restricted.

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South Quire Clerestory

The Cathedral stonemasons have commenced the repair and conservation of the stonework and glazing to three bays of the South Quire ‘Clerestory’.

If you are able to contribute towards the cost of this vital piece of work, then we would love to hear from you.

Donate Now
Quire
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South-Quire-Clerestory-Plan

A New Roof for the Chapel of St Andrew and St Catherine

Scaffolding was erected around the chapel of St Andrew and St Catherine (on the North side of the Cathedral) in May 2015 as part of a project to reduce the moisture content in the chapel and its structure, which was hastening the deterioration of the fabric.

This work involved the removal of the 20th century roof (reinforced concrete, covered in asphalt) and the installation of a new, traditional, lead-covered timber truss roof in its place. Plenty of stonework was repaired replaced and re-pointed by the Cathedral’s stonemasons, and the drains that take the rain water away from the Cathedral on the north side were repaired and replaced, having also been in poor condition.

An ancient tiled floor (pictured) described as the ‘finest medieval tile pavement surviving in Devon and Cornwall’ was uncovered during the work. It is in a room above the chapel, which in the Middle Ages was used as the Exchequer and in the 20th century as the Song School for boy choristers. The decorative tiled floor has intricate patterns and was laid in the late 13th century.

Work on the internal masonry of the chapel and the 14th century stained glass window in the adjacent north quire clerestory was also carried out.

The project cost over £280,000 and was part-funded by the First World War Centenary Cathedral Repairs Fund.

Donate Now
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Andrew-and-Catherine-Roof-01
Andrew-and-Catheine-Glass

A Medieval Quarry Provides Materials

A Devon quarry that originally supplied stone to build Exeter Cathedral over 800 years ago re-opened in late 2016, thanks to a partnership between the site’s current operator and the Cathedral’s works department.

Materials were previously extracted from the Dunscombe Manor site in the 1980s but the recent acceleration of the major works programme had depleted the Cathedral’s stockpile of Salcombe stone which is used to replace original, decayed material on a like for like basis. This type of work is essential for the Cathedral’s current phase of its restoration, lasting for at least 10 years.

In 2013 an approach was made to Craig Morgan, who manages the land as a caravan park and holiday cottage business on behalf of the National Trust, to begin the process of securing permissions to re-open the site. He said:

“I was very excited at the prospect of re-opening the quarry as being associated with the restoration of such an important and beautiful building is a great honour. I remember the last extractions ending in 1986 as if it were yesterday and always wondered if the next quarrying phase would be commenced in my lifetime. So, to be consulted and asked to assist in the project was a fabulous opportunity which I am more than happy to agree to.”

Under the terms of the latest agreement (which also includes a formal permission from Devon County Council) up to 5 cubic metres of stone can be removed each year to provide materials for upcoming restoration projects. Extraction is supervised by Chris Sampson, the Cathedral’s Clerk of Works, who said:

“We’re extremely grateful to Craig and to Devon County Council for working with us to re-open this historically significant site. Gaining a sustainable supply of Salcombe stone of this quality is important in providing our masons with the best materials as we continue to progress our current programme of major works which will ensure that the Cathedral is passed on to future generations in a cared-for condition.”

Salcombe stone was used to build the majority of the Cathedral, including the Norman towers and parts of West Front. It was extracted at several sites around the village of Salcombe Regis (near Sidmouth) from which it takes its name. Records show that it was transported by sea to Topsham and then into Exeter by barge.

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