These medieval tunnels provided water to the city above through centuries of civil war and plague. A visit to exeters underground passages includes a 10 minute film presentation, a 25 minute tour underground and an opportunity to explore the exhibition. Exeter underground passages 2for1 tickets when you travel by train to exeter. Traveling in a top of the range, 16seat mercedes minicoach, visit a handful of. Discover hidden underground passages in exeter, england. Exeters underground passages, 2 paris street, exeter 2020. Exeter s underground passages stretch for 425 metres across the city centre.
Exeter s museums and cultural centers celebrate everything from modern art to the citys industrial heritage. Today the passages are lit throughout, but still fascinate for all who enter. Exeters underground passages exeter, england atlas. Exeter is the only city in the uk to have underground passages of this type. Exeters underground passages tourist and visitor information.
All i can really say is that i dont think ill ever look at the high street in. Exeter s underground passages were built to house the pipes that brought clean drinking water into medieval exeter. The author of this book has produced an exceptional piece of local history. Water in the city provides a richly illustrated history of exeter s famous underground passages and of exeter. Wheelchair and pushchair access is to the exhibition only. Did you know that exeter has a network of hidden passages under the city that you. Mysterious tunnels or secret passages are a common element of the local folklore tradition in europe. A guided tour of exeters underground passages is a memorable event narrow, dark, interesting and exciting. Underground passages, exeter 1003851 historic england. Discover exeters underground passages in exeter, england. The history of speedway in exeter up to the mid1950s has been recorded in three books by tony lethbridge. The awardwinning royal albert memorial museum presents 2,000 years of local history in 16 mesmerising galleries, while the famed medieval underground passages take you deeper still into the. Exeters underground passages were built to house the pipes that brought clean drinking water into medieval exeter. Previously she worked at the womens library in london in the history book department.
Includes history, map, opening times, ticket prices, access details and further reading. Search the worlds most comprehensive index of fulltext books. Discover exeter s underground passages in exeter, england. Water in the city is a detailed investigation of the processes by which an extensive series of cathedral and civic aqueducts, fountains, and underground conduits were established, maintained, and transformed in exeter. Before we visited exeter we heard about the passages and to our delight, we were able to have a conducted tour. The history of exeters famous underground passages is complex. A guided tour of exeters underground passages is a. The aqueducts and underground passages of exeter 8601410693299. Among the most impressive of these was its highly sophisticated system of public water supply, including a unique network of underground passages. These medieval vaulted passages were built to house pipes bringing fresh water to the city. Tours of exeters underground passages often sell out it is advisable to come early to avoid disappointment, or call to book in advance. The book provides a richly illustrated history of exeter s famous underground passages and of the citys sophisticated system of public water supply during the medieval and early modern periods. Exeters underground passages exeter, england atlas obscura.
Discover medieval passageways that stretch under the citys streets at this visitor attraction in the heart of the city centre. The underground passages really are another gem in exeter s rich history and one i would strongly recommend. During the school holidays exeters underground passages are extremely busy. Amazingly 80 per cent of the medieval tunnel network survives. Beneath the streets of exeter lies a unique and fascinating archaeological wonder.
The histories of exeters aqueducts and of exeters underground passages are inextricably intertwined, therefore. The early water supply came from springs that appeared naturally at the surface, allowing the early inhabitants to establish a settlement. Amazingly 80 per cent of the medieval tunnel network survives and much of it can be explored by the public with. This page is a simplified account ot this important piece of exeters historic. Exeters underground passages historic site in exeter. Exeters underground passages the history of exeters famous underground passages is complex. If you are a selfconfessed history nerd like me, the passages are fascinating. Mark stoyle, professor of early modern history at the university of southampton, provides a thoroughly readable and richly illustrated history of exeters network of underground passages during the medieval and early modern periods. All tour participants must wear a hard hat that is provided. The 25minute tour provides interesting snippets about the history.
Spreading 425 metres across the city is a system of underground passages. Suze gardner has spent 11 years researching exeter as part of her job as a tour guide at exeter s medieval underground passages. The passages have long exercised a fascination over local people, with stories of. Its also worth checking out the choir as well as the library, which is home to the famous exeter book of anglosaxon verse. Built in the 14th and 15th centuries to bring a supply of fresh drinking water into the city, visitors to exeter s underground passages can enjoy a. Visit underground passages on your trip to exeter or. Please arrive at least 10 minutes before your tour is due to start. The passages were built to house the pipes that brought clean drinking water into medieval exeter. Guided tours of medieval vaulted passageways that stretch out beneath the. First tour generally starts half an hour after opening and at regular intervals throughout the day. The underground tunnels and passages which form part of the water supply for the cathedral and city of exeter date back to the th century and are exceptionally well preserved. Exeter underground passages 2for1 tickets offers days out guide. Hard hats donned, steve our guide expertly guided our group of nine through the narrow passages, explaining their history.
The author of this book has produced an exceptional piece of local history about a fascinating case study. This list of museums in devon, england, contains museums which are defined for this context as institutions including nonprofit organizations, government entities, and private businesses that. View all restaurants near underground passages on tripadvisor. Suze has ba in creative writing and history, and an ma in history. If youve read our city guide of exeter in england, then you might have read that during this trip, i had the chance to visit the secret underground passages in the city today. Please arrive at least 10 minutes before your tour. Most of these ancient passages still survive today. Explore the underground passages, a system of medieval routes beneath the city streets.
Mark stoyle, professor of early modern history at the university of southampton, provides a thoroughly readable and richly illustrated history of exeters network of underground passages during the. If you book or buy something through these links, we earn a small. Discover exeter from above and below on a free exeter red. They boast a fascinating history encompassing wars, plague and sieges.
Going underground and deep inside exeters secret passages. Exeter s underground passages are found in the princesshay shopping centre but dont be fooled by its modern location. The history of exeter s underground passages and aqueduct systems 2 the aqueducts of medieval exeter, 12261420 3 the development of the new conduit, 14201536 4 after the dissolution. Exeter is the only city in the uk to have underground passages of this type and guided tours have taken place here since the 1930s. A guided tour of exeter s underground passages is a memorable event narrow, dark. This page is a simplified account ot this important piece of exeters historic heritage.
Dating from the 14th century, the medieval passages under exeter high. Some of the passages you can stand up in, some you crouch down and there are some optional crawling ones. The aqueducts and underground passages of exeter by mark stoyle isbn. These passages are exeters medieval water supply and have been partially preserved. Deep below exeter s high street youll find an incredible network of underground passages, dating back to the 14 th century and home to some of the citys most interesting history. Underground passages exeter 2020 what to know before. Great sense of humour displayed with some funny stories along the way. Check off some of englands most famous and most beautiful sights on this 5day tour of cornwall and devon from london. Underground passages visitor information exeter city. Guides lead you on a scramble through the network, relating tales of ghosts, escape routes and cholera.
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