In June, 1850, the resourceful Messrs. Norris and Redway of South Street, Exeter, in agreement with the South Devon Railway Company laid on two excursion trains, one for Exonians to visit Plymouth and a second for Plymothians to visit Exeter.
The novelty of rail travel was such that all tickets were soon sold and more than 650 people travelled from Exeter in a train of sixteen carriages pulled by two engines, 'The Brigand' and 'The Corsair' which were gaily decorated with flags and laurels:
"As it gracefully swept along, fast gathering speed, it was saluted with enthusiasm by hundreds and hundreds of spectators."
The citizens of Exeter had a fine old time in Plymouth but the next day, when an equivalent trainload of Plymouth folk arrived in Exeter, there was, according to The Western Times, this very general and well-founded complaint:
"....the principal object of attraction in this city is the Cathedral, and the visitors felt indignant that they were not allowed to see it without a fee. Such, however, was the case - the fee was ruthlessly enforced; no one was permitted to enter 'God's House' without feeing the door keepers.
"We are told that the Church of England is the Poor Man's Church, but we fancy this is only applicable to the extent that the Deans and Chapters are so poor, that they cannot afford to pay their servants, but suffer them to make a raree show of God's House, to obtain their bread and cheese.
"We are sorry that this should be the case, but we trust that visitors to the city will not put down this instance of clerical rapacity to the account of the inhabitants generally, who are not answerable for the meanness of the Dean and Chapter, and very much regret their conduct."
Source: The Western Times, 8th June 1850.
No comments:
Post a Comment