Exeter Guildhall

[Cassie]

Anyone want to see a bit of ancient building glory? I was in exeter today and the guildhall was open. Spectacular. The door was installed in 1593 and the collar brace roof in 1468. I couldn’t help giving the timber a bit of a fondle, like Arthur Negus on the antiques roadshow

 

[elizabeth]

Hello Cassie,
It is indeed ‘splendid’. Glad you found it open. Hope you get a chance to visit Tuckers Hall, another splendid building similar age.

 

[Cassie]

Unfortunately not, I was on the way to the hairdresser I live/work close by however, so hopefully another day

 

[Cubist]

It was such magnificent structures that first attracted me to timber frame buildings as a young boy. I've been fascinated with, and often awed by, them ever since because of their grandeur, scale, majesty and the simple beauty of their artistic embellishment. As a very young man my appreciation increased dramatically when I learned that, hiding in plain sight in every one of them, was a hidden dimension at which I would quietly marvel, and still do today - not a single metal nail or screw was used in their construction and they are held together only by a few wooden pegs, wedges and gravity. Awesome, truly!

 

[Cassie]

I was blown away by the sheer age-first deeds to the building date from 1160! And the fabulous craftsmanship which has stood the test of time and become more beautiful with the passing centuries. They don’t make them like that any more! History oozing out of every handmade bit of it. The logistics of creating the structure with nothing more than hand tools and local materials is awesome. It’s made me want a truly historic house even more than I did before!