Kearsley's Traveller's Entertaining Guide Through Great Britain (1803):
Exeter is a city and a bishop's see, situated on the river Ex, whence it took its name, and over which is a handsome bridge. With its suburbs it contains, besides the cathedral, fifteen parish churches and four chapels. Ships of burthen formerly came up to this city; but the navigation was almost destroyed by one of the Courteneys, earls of Devon; it is, however, the seat of extensive foreign and domestic commerce. It has particularly a share in the fisheries of Newfoundland and Greenland. It is the Isa of Ptolemy and Anotonius. The see was transferred hither from Crediton by Edward the Confessor. It had six gates, besides turrets, many of which are destroyed. It had formerly so many convents that it was called Monkton, till king Athelstan changed its name to Exeter, about 90 at which time he fortified the city. The cathedral is a magnificent and curious fabric, which, though near 300 years in building, appears as uniform as if it had been but one architect. In 1763 in removing the old pavement was found the leaden coffin of bishop Bitton, who died in 1307. On the left hand of the altar there yet exists the seat where Edward the Confessor and his queen sat and installed Leofricus, the first bishop, who died in 1073. Here was once a castle supposed to have been built by the West Saxon kings. Several dukes of Cornwall and Exeter have resided in it. Here yet remains the ancient chapel built in 1260. Henrietta , queen of Charles I to whom this city gave shelter in the civil wars, was here delivered of a daughter afterwards duchess of Orleans. Here there are many remains of ancient structures, which are daily giving way to more modern erections. According to Doomsday-book, this city, at the time of the Conquest contained 315 houses. According to the return of population made to parliament in 1801, the number of inhabitants was 17,398. One mile beyond on the l. is Barley-house, captain Graves.
Inns: New London Inn, Old London Inn, Valiant Soldier, Half Moon.
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 Chapter 5
The Musgroves, like their houses, were in a state of alteration, perhaps of improvement. The father and mother were in the old English style, and the young people in the new. Mr. and Mrs. Musgrove were a very good sort of people; friendly and hospitable, not much educated, and not at all elegant. Their children had more modern minds and manners. There was a numerous family; but the only two grown up, excepting Charles, were Henrietta and Louisa, young ladies of nineteen and twenty, who had brought from a school at Exeter all the usual stock of accomplishments, and were now, like thousands of other young ladies, living to be fashionable, happy, and merry. Their dress had every advantage, their faces were rather pretty, their spirits extremely good, their manners unembarrassed and pleasant; they were of consequence at home, and favourites abroad. |
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