Becoming a History Buff

My Copenhagen History professor Carsten has given us an assignment to work on over our break. Bleh. It's about the history of the evolution of one of the cities we visit on our travels. I decided to do Exeter because there are a lot of old maps online, and because I knew Aunt Jessica would be able help me figure some stuff out. So Tuesday we headed out to Exeter!


I had no idea Exeter was such an old and well-preserved town! I really picked a good one. I was worried about having to spend hours figuring out where the city walls were (Carsten's favorite part), but we headed to the visitor information center and --voila!-- a pamphlet entitled "City Walls of Exeter." We picked up some other pamphlets, mapped out our route over coffee and hot chocolate, and headed out to see the city.


I couldn't believe how much of the wall was intact! This class has really made an impact on me. Before, I wouldn't think twice about a city's walls still being there. But seeing how old they are, and seeing how much cities can change and be demolished and rebuilt over the years, it really is pretty amazing that they're still there. Copenhagen's have been completely leveled, except for one nondescript tower base, which doesn't even have a label to tell people what it is. So here are some photos of Exeter's wall:

One of the towers of the wall, which protected the city

The walls have been incorporated into pretty gardens ...

... like this one!

Apart from wall-chasing, we walked around and saw some other historic and pretty sites in the city. I was taking lots of photos for my project, but people were giving me weird looks because I was taking pictures of things like normal shops and streets. Oh well. I'll put up some of the more interesting pictures I took, but there are (or will be) some on Facebook as well.

Part of the wall and towers made into a garden

Royal Albert Memorial Museum, which is under renovation but pretty anyway

Exeter's Guild Hall--from 80 AD!

Area of old shops near the cathedral

Exeter Cathedral. I went in on another trip, but the outside always strikes me as beautiful.

Part of a bombed-out building from WWII

So that's our adventure in Exeter. Should make for a good project, I think--the brochures I picked up have half my work done for me!

[Still promising the video of Eden Project, hopefully internet is better at my next hotel. I am loving Spain!]