Last Friday, 100 Third Form pupils and 11 staff embarked on the annual Exeter medieval walk, led by the History Department.
Some favourite facts included: in 1086, Exeter had a population of about 2500. During the Black death of 1348/9, the population was reduced from 3000 to around 1,100. By 1500, however, this had grown to around 8000, making Exeter one of the largest cities in the country after London. Exeter School was founded in 1633, in St John’s Hospital – the Blue Coat statue in Princesshay marks the spot!
The students visited significant landmarks, including the gatehouse of Exeter Castle, the oldest surviving Norman stone example in the country, and the city walls, 75% of which still stand. Then, they visited the original Exe Bridge, built in 1196, and the Exeter Guildhall, the oldest surviving Guildhall still used for its original purpose.
They also squeezed through Parliament Street, the narrowest street in the country!
The highlight of the trip was a guided tour of Tuckers Hall by three old Exonians, who taught the students about its role in Exeter’s history as a prominent wool processing city.
This trip was a fantastic opportunity for our Third Form students to see the history they have learned this year come to life in a local context. Thank you to all the staff who made this day so magical!
