Livery Dole, Exeter

Image: © Richard Dorrell Taken: 29 Dec 2009

This is a triangle of land between Heavitree Road, Polsloe Road and Magdalen Road. From the Old English Leofhere who owned the land and dole, meaning a piece of land. An article in the Flying Post in 1848 stated that the first mention of Livery Dole was in a deed of 1 August 1278, and again in an Act of Parliament in 1437. Henry VI was met by clergymen from Exeter, clothed in their copes and vestments, at Livery Dole in 1452. Livery Dole was used as a place of execution for those who committed murder, witchcraft, heresy or treason. In August 1431, Drew Steyner was burnt at the stake at Livery Dole while a hundred years later Thomas Benet, the Protestant Martyr suffered the same fate there. Samuel Holmyard was found guilty of printing forged banknotes and hung there. (Extracts from 'Exeter Memories' - http://www.exetermemories.co.uk/ ). See also Image The Victorian lamp post on the right is inscribed with 'CHARLES GEORGE GORDON 26TH JANUARY 1885'. General Gordon who was killed in the siege of Khartoum in 1885, was a close friend of the Heavitree vicar, Prebendary Barnes, father of Dame Irene Vanbrugh. Barnes was deeply upset at Gordon's death and paid for the memorial. General Gordon had family connections with Exeter and his father is buried in the St Thomas churchyard. See lamp post detail - Image

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