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| The Bishop's Throne at Exeter Cathedral being checked for damage and safety by John Allan, cathedral archaeologist [Credit: This is Cornwall] |
Despite the highly ornate throne being so old, experts know an amazing amount of detail about how it was made back in 1313 – they even know which Devon farm the oakwood came from, which pond it was seasoned in and the names of the carpenters who did the work.
They also know details of a far more up-to-date chapter in the throne's history...
If it hadn't been for one man's premonition – the masterpiece would have been blown to smithereens in the Second World War. One of England's leading restorers of ancient church woodwork dreamed the Bishop's Throne would be destroyed and persuaded the cathedral authorities to let him dismantle it piece by piece and store it in safekeeping.
A year later, in 1942, a German bomb did indeed hit the cathedral and the throne would have been turned to matchsticks had it still been in place.
But the remarkable story goes on – when he reinstated the throne after the war the renowned Devon joiner Herbert Reed probably saved it for prosperity. Despite facing many problems (rats had nibbled off the identification numbers attached to the 100s of jigsaw pieces of carved wood) he foresaw future problems with the woodwork and took the liberty of strengthening the throne and its 60-foot canopy.
That's been the main discovery of a survey which has been carried out recently to see if the throne was still secure and safe.
"It was reassembled after the war, but in the last decade or so concern has grown because – although it's a magnificent old thing – its carpentry is quite primitive and in recent years the bottom has shown signs of cracking," explained cathedral archaeologist John Allan. "We thought there may be similar problems up top – what would have been especially alarming is if the wooden pegs holding it together may have cracked."
Being 700 years old the exquisitely carved throne was built with no metal bolts or screws to hold it together. "No one really knew if we were still relying on old wooden pegs or whether Herbert Reed had actually strengthened it. But it seems he did anticipate many of the problems and he did put in bolts and screws in vulnerable places."
Herbert Reed, the man who'd dreamed about the throne's destruction and worked to save it, was a Devon-based joiner who had a national reputation for restoring ancient church woodwork. Now his mantle has been taken on by another Devon based expert, Hugh Harrison of Tiverton, who's been doing much of the survey work on the throne.
"We are lucky to have him," commented Mr Allan. "The throne is widely regarded as most magnificent piece of mediaeval furniture left in Northern Europe. It is a complex and most unusual survival – and is remarkable because it is so richly carved. It must have required masses of work – there's a series of very complex shapes which must have been very difficult to carve, along with elaborate panels and leaf carvings."
What's also remarkable about the throne are the detailed records that go with it...
"For an object which is so old, we know unusual amount," said Mr Allan. "For example the oak came from Bishop's Manor at Chudleigh – we know the names of the carpenters who worked on it (William Membury and William Gampton) – and we know the wood was taken to Newton St Cyres and put in a mill pond (to season).
"The cathedral preserved the original rolls of parchment which recall all the expenses at the time – they are magnificent and generally thought to be best record of their kind."
So who was the bishop who inspired – and partly paid for – such a magnificent treasure?
"Bishop Stapledon was a Devon man who came from Holsworthy – and he rose to high office and eventually became Lord High Treasurer of England," said Mr Allen.
His most solid legacy is the throne which Mr Allan says is generally regarded as a masterpiece. "It is perhaps the most spectacular artwork left from Medieval Devon – and it would be difficult to talk it up too much. It is more than twice the size of any other bishop's throne in the UK and more than twice as elaborate."
And it will be seen once again it all its glory when the scaffolding is taken down in March in the lead-up to Easter.
Source: This is Cornwall [February 06, 2012]