Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Friday, 9 January 2026

Exeter Cathedral


Country Life has had two articles about the history of Exeter Cathedral, both in respect of its building in the medieval centuries and also its nineteenth century restoration and a recent programme to restore the Choir and to recreate the destroyed east walk of the cloisters. They are by John Goodall, the architectural editor of the magazine, and are a rich source of information about the cathedral, and accompanied by some excellent illustrations.





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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Haynes Manuals branched out from road vehicles some years ago, and now I think they publish manuals for building and maintaining space shuttles, U boats, and even teenagers! The mind boggles, as to the last one especially! They could do worse than produce a manual for constructing and assembling the wonderful bishop's chair in Exeter cathedral. This 60 foot tall masterpiece of carpentry has not a single nail, and is composed of many ingeniously interlocking pieces.

Cheers
John Ramsden (jrq@gmx.com)

12 January 2026 at 10:06

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