In July 1867, the Reverend J. C. Jackson of Hackney wrote a strong letter to The Times which was reprinted in The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette of 19th July:
"At Exeter some of the most interesting tombs in the country have been simply destroyed. Of the Courtney tomb there is not a vestige of old work left, and the so-called restoration is partly in stucco. The figures themselves are perfectly ridiculous. More than this the monuments no longer stand over the places of interment. Happily, at present, there have been few funds for restoring this charming building, or we might have to regret even geater loss than in the case of Lincoln. Where cash has been forthcoming it has been worse than wasted.
When I heard of the proposed restoration of Bishop Oldham's tomb, I made a point of going down to Exeter to see how things really stood, and I was horror-struck. This fine monument was thus treated. First, all vestiges of old colour, of which much remained in its original comdition, were removed; then all the stonework, except the sculpture, and it is said, though I can scarcely believe it, the effigy was re-tooled, and finally the whole was painted up in oil colours of the most distressing crudeness, just as any village painter might do it. The face has been aptly compared to a Guy Fawkes. The furbishing up of the Carew monument is not a bit better; even the inscriptions are now of no sort of authority, except as possible copies."
I am taking the Reverend J. C. Jackson at his word and shall never again look at the monuments in the Exeter Cathedral with the same eyes.
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