St Edmund's, Exe Bridge

The original church, constructed on reclaimed land from the river, probably dated from around about 870. King Edmund 849-870 had many chapels dedicated to him at this time, so a Saxon church on a possible Roman or Saxon ford may date from this period. St Edmund's was one of the chapels mentioned by Peter de Palerna in his will during the reign of King John (1199-1216). He left the sum of 1 penny per year to each of 28 chapels, including St Edmund's.

Walter Gervase had the Exe bridge constructed from 1190, incorporating a newly built chapel of St Edmund's, replacing the old structure. Gervase was Mayor of Exeter in 1231 and 1239 and was buried along with his wife, in a small chantry chapel built on the bridge opposite St Edmund's. In 1833, this small chapel was removed and the bones of a tall man were found under the floor, to be re-interred in the same spot, under one of the piers of the bridge he had built. St Edmund's itself has also been referred to as St Edmund's on the Bridge and even the Chantry on the Bridge.

Printing press

It is thought that Exeter's first printing press was installed in the church by John Williams the rector from 1554 to 1572, with a press supplied by Tavistock Abbey. In 1800, the tower was extensively damaged by lightning - an etching for Thomas Shapter's History of Cholera shows a pointed spire on top of the tower in 1832.

In 1834, extensive repairs were undertaken and the church was rebuilt at a cost of £2,000. It was a cement rendered structure, using material from the old church, with most of the original tower retained, and a peal of eight bells; the treble, fifth and tenor were dated 1833, while the remaining five dated from 1731. Internally the church had an altar screen presented by Lord Rolle, and choir screens were installed in 1888. The register of baptisms and burials date from 1571 and marriages from 1572.

The remains of St Edmund's

The Parish of St Edmunds stretched from the ancient bridge, across Exe Island and Bonhay, almost to Head Weir with its north western boundary under the walls of Exeter. The population of St Edmunds in 1801 was 918, which increased considerably during the 19th Century as industrialisation spread across the area.

The church was damaged by fire in 1969. The traffic scheme of the 1960's and 70's that created Western Way required the demolition of many properties in Edmund Street - the partially demolished church was reprieved when the remains of the old Exe bridge were discovered and excavated by archaeologists during 1975. However, the demolition had already been extensive and only part of the church tower remains, perched on the mediaeval bridge.

St Edmund's Roll of Honour for the First World War

BACK, Sergeant J  - DFRE
CHURCHWARD, Stoker C M  - RN
COURT, Private A C  - 9th Devons
COURT, Lance Corporal F J  - London Scottish Gordon Highlanders
DEEM, Private C  - 2nd 4th Gloucesters
DAVIES, Private A  - 1st Devons
GARINER, Private G  3rd/4th Devons
HARE, Rfm W J  - London Irish Rifles
HOLDING, Sergeant F  - Coldstream Guards
HARRIS, Corporal J H  - 1st Devons
RUSSELL, Private A  0 16th Devons
STABB, Private E  - 9th Devons
SOWDEN, Private F  - 8th Devons
TOLLICK, Corporal H  - 8th Devons
TROTT, Lance Corporal W - 1st City of London

Sources: White 1850, Kelly's 1897, Exeter Churches by Edith Cresswell and the Devon Record Office