Cathedral Yard - Hansons - Mixed media, oil on acrylic

Exeter cathedral yard is one of the loveliest and most appreciated settings in the city. Bordered by a motley collection of mostly very old dwellings, a hotel, and various tea shops, restaurants, and pubs, the yard encompasses about three acres of lawn and trees surrounding the Norman towers and Gothic nave of the medieval Cathedral. At lunch-time on a pleasant day the surroundings are filled with people sightseeing, resting, socialising, and picnicking on the low wall, benches and grass. And yet at other times the scene can become strangely quiet.
Always, however, the sense of history here is strong. Some years ago workmen uncovered Roman baths right in front of the cathedral and a Saxon burial yard, and nearby considerable lengths of the original Roman city walls still survive. The shops to the extreme left of the picture date from the time of Shakespeare, as does a pub close by that was frequented by Sir Francis Drake. The viewpoint for this painting is just outside the entrance to the Royal Clarence Hotel, where Nelson stayed during a brief landfall before Trafalgar. It is something of a miracle that any of this survives. Much of the rest of the beautiful Elizabethan city centre was completely destroyed during the Second World War.
Along with many others I have always loved passing through the yard, and occasionally entering the cathedral which hosts a variety of services and musical performances. The Christmas candle-lit carol service is, of course, a special event, but set apart. In this picture I wanted to show what a delight a corner of the cathedral yard can be in summer sunshine on any ordinary day.

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