Livery Dole Chapel of St Clare, Exeter

Image: © Richard Dorrell Taken: 29 Dec 2009

This small building at the point of the Livery Dole triangle is a 'peculiar' chapel, independent of the diocese. Livery Dole was a place of execution for Exeter, so a Chantry Chapel was built between 1418 and 1439 that was used to pray for the souls of the executed. The gallows or stake, depending on the method of execution, was in front of the west end of the chapel, in the gardens of the present almshouses. The earliest mention of the chapel was in a document from 1439 stating "the Chapel of St. Clarus without the south gate, in the parish of Hevetre." The chapel is constructed from red Heavitree stone, that was extracted from, a quarry at appropriately, Quarry Lane. The stone is what is known as a breccia conglomerate from the Permian era, laid down by flood waters in a semi arid climate. Many churches in Exeter are constructed from Heavitree stone, which accounts for their poor condition, as the stone readily crumbles through weathering. St Clare's is no exception, and with the addition of heavy traffic on each side, the small building has to have constant maintenance. The interior walls are whitewashed, giving a very clean and simple look, with few memorials. When Heavitree's St Michael's Church was closed for restoration between 1844 and 1846, St Clare's was licensed for marriages. Between 31 July 1844 and 26 July 1846, forty-five marriages were performed within its walls. (Extracts from 'Exeter Memories' - http://www.exetermemories.co.uk/ ).

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