Livery Dole

Livery Dole
"Livery Dole Chapel with the old alms-houses taken down in 1850". View from south-east drawn by W.Spreat of Exeter
Location Exeter
Region Devon
Type Ancient site
Livery Dole in 2012, viewed from south-east, showing new position of 1849 replacement almshouses

Livery Dole in Exeter, 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.

Toponymy

The name "Livery Dole" is first recorded in a document of 1279 and probably derives from the Old English Leofhere, a man who owned the land, and dole, meaning a piece of land.[1]

Place of execution

Protestant Martyrs' Monument, Denmark Road, Exeter, Devon. Erected 1909 in memory of the martyrs Thomas Benet (d.1531) and Agnes Prest (d.1557)

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".[2]

The most notable execution was the 1531 burning at the stake of the Protestant martyr Thomas Benet. Lighted furze was pushed into his face when he refused to deny as heresy his action of nailing on the west door of Exeter Cathedral a message proclaiming the pope to be an Anti-Christ and rejecting his supremacy in religious affairs.[3]

Denmark Road Protestant Martyrs' Memorial

In 1909 a monument in the form of an obelisk of Dartmoor granite was erected to Benet's memory in nearby Denmark Road. This monument was designed by Harry Hems and was erected with money raised through public subscription. It also commemorates the martyrdom of Agnes Prest who in 1557 was burnt for heresy at the stake in Southernhay. Two bronze sculpted relief panels by Harry Hems on the base of the obelisk depict Benet banging on the door of the Cathedral and Prest burning at the stake.[3] The following inscriptions are contained on two bronze plaques affixed on opposite sides of the base:

"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".

And:

"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 Protestant Reformation this monument was erected by public subscription AD 1909. They being dead yet speak".

According to Charles Worthy, in his History of the Suburbs of Exeter (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.[4] The last person to be executed at Livery Dole was Samuel Holmyard who was hanged at Magdalen Drop in 1818 for passing a forged City Bank one pound note.[2]

Chapel of St Clarus

Interior of chapel of St Clarus, looking east toward the altar

Occupying the apex, or easternmost part, of the triangular site is the Chapel of Saint Clarus, an English missionary martyred in about 894 near the River Epte in Normandy.[5]

Foundation

The present building made from red Heavitree stone dates from a re-building of 1592 by Sir Robert Dennis (d.1592) of Holcombe Burnell, but it was built originally between 1418 and 1439 to serve as a chantry in which to pray for the souls of persons executed on this spot.[6] The chapter roll of 1439 mentions the Livery Dole Chapel as "Capella Sancti Clari extra portam australem infra parochiam de Hevetre" ("The Chapel of Saint Clarus outside the southern gate (of the City of Exeter) within the parish of Heavitree"). 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[7] listing all the other chapels in Heavitree, namely St Clements and St Eligius.

1592 rebuild with almshouses

Left: 1849 sculpted escutcheon of arms of Denys of Holcombe Burnel & Bicton as shown on the new Livery Dole Almshouses: Ermine, three battle-axes gules

Sir Robert Dennis (1525–1592) of Holcombe Burnell and Bicton 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".[8] 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.[9]

Founder's memorial tablet

Stone tablet dedicated to Sir Robert Dennis, with Denys arms and quarterings above
Left: heraldic quarterings of Sir Robert Dennis (d.1592) as shown on stone escutcheon at Livery Dole; right heraldic achievement of Denys Rolle (1614–1638), Rolle Mausoleum, Bicton, with Rolle arms added as 1st quartering, which has necessitated the omission of the last quartering at Livery Dole of Godolphin

There is not the slightest doubt of this Sir Thomas Dennis having been the testator's son,[10] 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: "These alms-houses were founded by Sir Robert Dennis, knight, in March 1591 and finished by Sir Thomas Dennis his brother (sic) in 1594". The tablet contains also a heraldic escutcheon sculpted in relief showing the following ten quarterings of the Dennis family:[10]

  1. Dennis
  2. Dabernon
  3. Giffard of Halsbury in the parish of Parkham
  4. Stapledon
  5. Bockerell
  6. Cristenstowe
  7. Gobodesley
  8. Chiderleigh
  9. Done (or Dunn)
  10. Godolphin

These quarterings can be seen clearly and with tinctures on the well-preserved monument in the private Rolle Mausoleum at Bicton to Denys Rolle (1614–1638), 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. The Dennis almshouses occupy the central part of Livery Dole to the west of the chapel.

1849 rebuild by Lady Rolle

Livery Dole, Exeter. The westernmost of two identical blocks of 6 dwellings each erected by Louisa, Lady Rolle in 1849, replacing those from 1594. The escutcheon on the gable of the central entrance bay shows the arms of Rolle impaling Trefusis. Viewed from SE
Centre: 1849 sculpted escutcheon on new Livery Dole Almshouses showing dexter: Or, on a fesse dancetté between three billets azure each charged with a lion rampant of the first three bezants (Rolle); impaling sinister: Argent, a chevron between three spindles sable (Trefusis). These are the arms used by Lord Rolle from the date of his second marriage until his death, here used by his widow

The Rolle family of Stevenstone was in the 17th century the heir of the Dennis family of Bicton. Henry Rolle, 1st Baron Rolle (1708–1750) left in his will an endowment to "The Hospital of Livery Dole".[11] The almshouses were demolished rebuilt in 1849, which date is evidenced by the dated cast-iron hopper heads to the gutters, by Louisa, Lady Rolle (1794-1885), nee Trefusis, daughter of Robert George William Trefusis, 17th Baron Clinton (1764–1797), and widow of John Rolle, 1st Baron Rolle (d.1842) of Bicton House. In his will Lord Rolle stipulated that "the patronage 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. Whilst the original almshouses stood at the south-west side of the chapel, the new almshouses were positioned to the north-west of the chapel, which allowed space for lawns and gardens in front of them. Lady Rolle also rebuilt Bicton Church and Otterton Church. Heraldic escutcheons were added at that time to the gable-ends of the new almshouses showing the arms of Dennis, Role and Trefusis. Following Lady Rolle's death in 1885 the patronage descended to Lord Rolle's residuary legatee, his widow's nephew Hon. Mark (Trefusis) Rolle (1836–1907), second son of Charles Trefusis, 19th Baron Clinton.

Restoration post WWII

The windows of St Clarus's Chapel were destroyed by German bombing of Exeter in May 1942 during World War II.[12] The chapel was restored by Mark Rolle's nephew and heir Charles Hepburn-Stuart-Forbes-Trefusis, 21st Baron Clinton (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.

Extension in 1980

The almshouses were extended in 1980.[13]

General Gordon Memorial

Livery Dole, viewed from the east, showing the General Gordon memorial lamp post in foreground in front of St Clare's Chapel. Part of the roof of the almshouses can be seen behind the chapel

At the apex of the Livery Dole triangle, where the two roads meet, was formerly situated a toll house. On that spot since 1885 and still standing today is a Victorian memorial lamp post bearing the inscription: "Charles George Gordon, 26th January 1885". It was erected in memory of General Gordon who was killed in the Siege of Khartoum in 1885, and paid for by Prebendary Barnes, vicar of Heavitree, who was a friend of the General's.[14]

Sources

References

  1. ↑ Falla, Trevor (1983). Discovering Exeter 3: Heavitree. Exeter: Exeter Civic Society. p. 18.
  2. 1 2 Cornforth, David. "Exeter's Executed". Exeter Memories. Retrieved 2011-12-17.
  3. 1 2 Cornforth, David. "Livery Dole Martyr's Memorial". Exeter Memories. Retrieved 2011-12-17.
  4. ↑ Worthy, Charles (1892). The History of the Suburbs of Exeter. London: Henry Gray. p. 31.
  5. ↑ Harding, p.276; not dedicated to the female saint St. Clare, whose name in Latin Sancta Clara would give Capella Sanctae Clarae, genitive feminine
  6. ↑ Cornforth, David. "St Clare's Chapel, Livery Dole". Exeter Memories. Retrieved 2011-12-17.
  7. ↑ Deed of 1418 quoted by Harding, p.276
  8. ↑ Quoted from Harding, p.278
  9. ↑ Harding, p.276, note 7
  10. 1 2 Harding, p.278
  11. ↑ Alexander, J.J. & Hooper, W.R., History of Great Torrington, Sutton, 1948, p.67
  12. ↑ Inscribed monument inside St Clarus's Chapel
  13. ↑ Meller, Hugh (1989). Exeter Architecture. Chichester: Phillimore. p. 55. ISBN 0-85033-693-7.
  14. ↑ Cornforth, David. "Livery Dole". Exeter Memories. Retrieved 2011-12-17.

Coordinates: 50°43′19″N 3°30′37″W / 50.72196°N 3.51027°W / 50.72196; -3.51027

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