112:
261:
He appointed his son Sir Thomas Dennis as sole executor, with the testator's brothers Edward and Walter Dennis as overseers together with George Cary of
Cockington and four others. He requested in his will that if he should die before its completion his son Sir Thomas Dennis should complete the building work "in consideration of the love he bore him and that he had not disinherited him". He also directed his overseers to complete the work if his son should refuse to do so. Sir Robert did indeed die before the work was finished, and his son Sir Thomas Dennis completed the work in 1594. A "peppercorn" chief rent of one penny per annum was payable by the Livery Dole Hospital to the lord of the manor of Heavitree.
339:
446:
387:
422:
434:
104:
407:
27:
286:
207:
477:
458:
65:
321:
of the Livery Dole in
Heavitree...shall be in the owner of my mansion house at Bicton", and he had left a life interest in that mansion to his widow. The original almshouses stood at the south-west side of the chapel, but the new buildings were positioned north-west of the chapel, which allowed space
260:
stated in his will dated 25 July 1592 and proved 22 September 1592, that he had "designed to set aside a plot of ground and to erect an alms-house and chapel for a certain number of poor people with weekly stipends and certain yearly commodities, as would appear in a devise signed and sealed by him".
511:, Devon, an heiress of Dabernon, 4. Brewer, heiress of Giffard, 5. Bockerell, 6. Cristenstowe, 7. Gobodesley, 8. Chiderleigh, 9. Donne (or Dunne), 10. Godolphin. These quarterings can be seen clearly and with tinctures on the well-preserved monument in the private Rolle Mausoleum at
123:
There were two places in Livery Dole used for executions. Until 1531, heretics were burned at the stake near the modern day junction of
Magdalen Road and Barrack Road. From 1531 to 1818 hangings were performed on a site near College Avenue known as "Magdalen Drop".
178:"In grateful remembrance of Thomas Benet, M.A. who suffered at Livery Dole A.D. 1531 for denying the supremacy of the Pope and of Agnes Prest who suffered on Southernhay A.D. 1557 for refusing to accept the doctrine of Transubstantiation. Faithful unto death".
264:
There is not the slightest doubt of this Sir Thomas Dennis having been the testator's son, yet on a seemingly contemporary stone tablet erected over the entrance to the formerly existing quadrangle he was erroneously described as Sir Robert's brother:
79:, Devon, is an ancient triangular site between what is today Heavitree Road and Magdalen Road, in the eastern suburbs of Exeter. It was most notoriously used as a place for executions, and has contained an almshouse and chapel since 1591.
249:"). In the year 1418 however the chapel was not included amongst a deed of that date found in the 19th century amongst the records of Exeter City Corporation listing all the other chapels in Heavitree, namely St Clements and St Eligius.
322:
for lawns and gardens in front of them. Lady Rolle also rebuilt Bicton Church and
Otterton Church. Following Lady Rolle's death in 1885 the patronage descended to Lord Rolle's residuary legatee, his widow's nephew Hon.
173:
on the base of the obelisk depict Benet banging on the door of the
Cathedral and Prest burning at the stake. The following inscriptions are contained on two bronze plaques affixed on opposite sides of the base:
111:
528:
The date 1849 is shown on the cast-iron hopper heads to the gutters of the new almshouses, and heraldic escutcheons were added at that time to the gable-ends, showing the arms of Dennis, Rolle and
Trefusis
350:(1863–1957). The east window was rebuilt by him in 1946, and some mediaeval stained glass roundels from a tower in the demolished old Church at Bicton were inserted into the side windows in 1947.
289:
Livery Dole, Exeter. The westernmost of two identical blocks of six dwellings each erected by Lady Rolle in 1849. The escutcheon on the gable of the central entrance bay shows the arms of Rolle
386:
305:(1708–1750) left in his will an endowment to "The Hospital of Livery Dole". The almshouses were demolished and rebuilt in 1849 by Louisa, Lady Rolle (1794–1885), nee Trefusis, daughter of
186:"To the glory of God & in honour of his faithful witnesses who near this spot yielded their bodies to be burned for love to Christ and in vindication of the principles of the
198:(1892), the iron ring which was placed around the victims' bodies and the chain which attached them to the stake were found in 1851 during rebuilding work on the almshouses.
421:
347:
346:
The windows of St Clarus's Chapel were destroyed by German bombing of Exeter in May 1942 during World War II. The chapel was restored by Mark Rolle's nephew and heir
433:
519:, the son of Anne Denys, heiress of Bicton, with an added first quarter of Rolle, which has necessitated the omission of the last quarter of Godolphin.
445:
115:
Anonymous watercolour of
Richard Holmyard arrested for forgery on the City Bank taken for execution to the gallows in Magdalen Road, 1818. From the
891:
267:"These alms-houses were founded by Sir Robert Dennis, knight, in March 1591 and finished by Sir Thomas Dennis his brother (sic) in 1594"
107:
Protestant
Martyrs' Monument, Denmark Road, Exeter, Devon. Erected 1909 in memory of the martyrs Thomas Benet and Agnes Prest.
406:
241:
in which to pray for the souls of persons executed on this spot. The chapter roll of 1439 mentions the Livery Dole Chapel as
327:
795:
564:. These are the arms used by Lord Rolle from the date of his second marriage until his death, here used by his widow.
847:
31:"Livery Dole Chapel with the old alms-houses taken down in 1850". View from south-east drawn by W.Spreat of Exeter
365:. On that spot since 1885 and still standing today is a Victorian memorial lamp post bearing the inscription: "
896:
302:
116:
516:
310:
87:
The name "Livery Dole" is first recorded in a document of 1279 and probably derives from the Old
English
457:
886:
140:
230:
161:
and was erected with money raised through public subscription. It also commemorates the martyrdom of
135:
was pushed into his face when he refused to deny as heresy his action of nailing on the west door of
476:
245:("The Chapel of Saint Clarus outside the southern gate (of the City of Exeter) within the parish of
338:
656:
68:
Livery Dole in 2012, viewed from south-east, showing new position of 1849 replacement almshouses
187:
837:
Harding,Lt.-Col. William. "An
Account of the Ecclesiastical Edifices of Exeter", published in
269:. The tablet contains also a heraldic escutcheon sculpted in relief showing the following ten
467:
366:
290:
270:
128:
812:
692:
361:
At the apex of the Livery Dole triangle, where the two roads meet, was formerly situated a
8:
627:
482:
463:
650:
369:, 26th January 1885". It was erected in memory of General Gordon who was killed in the
127:
The most notable execution was the 1531 burning at the stake of the Protestant martyr
791:
543:
370:
190:
this monument was erected by public subscription AD 1909. They being dead yet speak".
157:
was erected to Benet's memory in nearby Denmark Road. This monument was designed by
767:
Alexander, J.J. & Hooper, W.R., History of Great Torrington, Sutton, 1948, p.67
393:
253:
234:
136:
601:
427:
Stone tablet dedicated to Sir Robert Dennis, with Denys arms and quarterings above
165:
who in 1557 was burnt for heresy at the stake in Southernhay. Two bronze sculpted
103:
670:
226:
214:
Occupying the apex, or easternmost part, of the triangular site is the Chapel of
880:
862:
849:
512:
397:
306:
257:
439:
Heraldic quarterings of Sir Robert Dennis on stone escutcheon at Livery Dole
26:
314:
285:
215:
206:
298:
162:
542:
Or, on a fesse dancetté between three billets azure each charged with a
243:"Capella Sancti Clari extra portam australem infra parochiam de Hevetre"
362:
323:
170:
158:
374:
274:
246:
504:
342:
The General Gordon memorial lamp post in front of St Clare's Chapel
318:
151:
277:
occupy the central part of Livery Dole to the west of the chapel.
237:, but it was built originally between 1418 and 1439 to serve as a
508:
238:
154:
147:
64:
758:
Vivian, p.279; given erroneously by Harding as arms of Stapledon
547:
537:
166:
76:
210:
Interior of chapel of St Clarus, looking east toward the altar
218:, an English missionary martyred in about 894 near the River
132:
451:
1849 sculpted escutcheon on the new Almshouses showing ...
503:
The quarterings are: 1. Dennis, 2. Dabernon, 3. Giffard of
219:
348:
Charles Hepburn-Stuart-Forbes-Trefusis, 21st Baron Clinton
839:
Exeter Diocesan Architectural Association Transactions
373:
in 1885, and paid for by Prebendary Barnes, vicar of
669:Harding, p.276; not dedicated to the female saint
307:Robert George William Trefusis, 17th Baron Clinton
143:and rejecting his supremacy in religious affairs.
878:
562:Argent, a chevron between three spindles sable
317:. In his will Lord Rolle stipulated that "the
392:1849 sculpted escutcheon of arms of Denys of
301:was the heir of the Dennis family of Bicton.
776:Inscribed monument inside St Clarus's Chapel
589:. Exeter: Exeter Civic Society. p. 18.
356:
25:
381:Arms related to the chapel and almshouses
337:
297:In the 17th century the Rolle family of
284:
229:dates from a re-building of 1592 by Sir
205:
201:
110:
102:
63:
879:
841:, 1851–1853 and 1863, pp. 276–279
790:. Chichester: Phillimore. p. 55.
785:
648:
621:
619:
353:The almshouses were extended in 1980.
810:
713:Deed of 1418 quoted by Harding, p.276
690:
625:
599:
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377:, who was a friend of the General's.
146:In 1909 a monument in the form of an
98:
652:The History of the Suburbs of Exeter
328:Charles Trefusis, 19th Baron Clinton
194:According to Charles Worthy, in his
616:
225:The present building made from red
13:
892:Buildings and structures in Exeter
578:
400:on the new Livery Dole Almshouses.
14:
908:
593:
273:of the Dennis family. The Dennis
252:Sir Robert Dennis (1525–1592) of
693:"St Clare's Chapel, Livery Dole"
475:
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385:
196:History of the Suburbs of Exeter
91:, a man who owned the land, and
804:
779:
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761:
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734:
628:"Livery Dole Martyr's Memorial"
587:Discovering Exeter 3: Heavitree
554:
531:
522:
497:
414:Ermine, three battle-axes gules
333:
280:
725:
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684:
663:
655:. London: Henry Gray. p.
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1:
571:
141:the pope to be an Anti-Christ
303:Henry Rolle, 1st Baron Rolle
117:Royal Albert Memorial Museum
7:
326:(1836–1907), second son of
311:John Rolle, 1st Baron Rolle
95:, meaning a piece of land.
82:
10:
913:
722:Quoted from Harding, p.278
309:(1764–1797), and widow of
119:'s collection (685/1997/4)
293:Trefusis. Viewed from SE.
52:
44:
36:
24:
649:Worthy, Charles (1892).
490:
517:Denys Rolle (1614–1638)
357:General Gordon Memorial
16:Ancient site in England
731:Harding, p.276, note 7
679:Capella Sanctae Clarae
673:, whose name in Latin
585:Falla, Trevor (1983).
343:
294:
211:
192:
188:Protestant Reformation
180:
139:a message proclaiming
120:
108:
69:
786:Meller, Hugh (1989).
367:Charles George Gordon
341:
324:Mark (Trefusis) Rolle
288:
209:
202:Chapel and almshouses
184:
176:
114:
106:
67:
863:50.72196°N 3.51027°W
897:Almshouses in Devon
859: /
788:Exeter Architecture
681:, genitive feminine
602:"Exeter's Executed"
546:of the first three
485:: arms of Trefusis.
21:
868:50.72196; -3.51027
811:Cornforth, David.
691:Cornforth, David.
626:Cornforth, David.
600:Cornforth, David.
344:
295:
212:
121:
109:
99:Place of execution
70:
19:
887:History of Exeter
815:. Exeter Memories
695:. Exeter Memories
630:. Exeter Memories
604:. Exeter Memories
507:in the parish of
466:: arms of Rolle,
371:Siege of Khartoum
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235:Holcombe Burnell
137:Exeter Cathedral
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412:Arms of Denys:
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313:(died 1842) of
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227:Heavitree stone
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813:"Livery Dole"
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797:0-85033-693-7
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231:Robert Dennis
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222:in Normandy.
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817:. Retrieved
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697:. Retrieved
686:
678:
675:Sancta Clara
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632:. Retrieved
606:. Retrieved
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561:
560:Blazoned as
556:
544:lion rampant
541:
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360:
352:
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334:20th century
315:Bicton House
296:
281:Rolle family
266:
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216:Saint Clarus
213:
195:
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129:Thomas Benet
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72:
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56:Ancient site
866: /
819:17 December
699:17 December
677:would give
634:17 December
608:17 December
299:Stevenstone
271:quarterings
163:Agnes Prest
73:Livery Dole
20:Livery Dole
881:Categories
851:50°43′19″N
572:References
363:toll house
275:almshouses
171:Harry Hems
169:panels by
159:Harry Hems
131:. Lighted
854:3°30′37″W
671:St. Clare
375:Heavitree
319:patronage
247:Heavitree
538:Blazoned
505:Halsbury
483:sinister
468:impaling
291:impaling
152:Dartmoor
89:Leofhere
83:Toponymy
37:Location
832:Sources
548:bezants
509:Parkham
239:chantry
155:granite
148:obelisk
794:
513:Bicton
464:dexter
398:Bicton
396:&
258:Bicton
167:relief
77:Exeter
45:Region
40:Exeter
491:Notes
182:And:
133:furze
48:Devon
821:2011
792:ISBN
701:2011
636:2011
610:2011
256:and
220:Epte
93:dole
53:Type
540:as
515:to
470:...
150:of
75:in
883::
657:31
618:^
330:.
823:.
800:.
703:.
659:.
638:.
612:.
551:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
