To spot the Exeter monastery, look for a sturdy, reddish-brown stone building with thick walls and small, deep-set windows. There’s an uneven, castle-like roofline, almost as if the top tried to grow a crown but got distracted halfway up! You’ll find the building a little tucked away behind a line of hedges and some lush greenery-just peek beyond the plants, and that blocky structure with its confident, almost fortress-like presence is your monastery.
Alright, let’s take you back in time. Imagine Exeter before all the pizza shops, back when the only “delivery” you got was a loaf of bread from the monks-if you were lucky. This city has had monasteries since the 7th century. Picture monks in long robes shuffling by, chanting softly as a cool breeze sweeps through the ancient Roman streets.
Right here stood the very first monasteries, on top of even older Roman bathhouses. Now, these weren’t just your average quiet monks. Vikings kept popping by-uninvited-so these poor monks had to keep rebuilding the place. It became a bit of a cycle: build, pray, and hope you don’t see a longboat! There’s a funny twist though: every time the invaders forced the monks to flee, some determined king-like Æthelstan, Edgar, or even the legendary Canute-would say, “No worries boys, let’s put it back!”
As you stand here, imagine the clang of builders’ hammers mixing with the low hum of prayer as a new king tried to outdo the last one. In the tenth century, life got busier-over a thousand people lived around this area. Kids ran across the minster yard, and the name “Monkton” stuck, because frankly, there were monks everywhere you looked.
But the most mysterious part is all the layers beneath your feet. Archaeologists found ancient church foundations when digging here, right under a more modern church. It’s as if Exeter couldn’t stop stacking churches on top of monasteries on top of Roman spas. Eventually, all the bits and pieces-nunneries, priories, Benedictine and Augustinian houses-merged into one grand cathedral. And here you are, standing where centuries of prayers, invasions, and royal do-overs have created a place full of echoes and secrets.
So, as you look at these rough old stones, try to hear not just the city, but the whispers of monks, the clash of history, and the dreams of kings who wouldn’t give up. And if you see any Vikings, maybe just walk a little faster!
