NORTHERNHAY #2, EXETER, 1833

 In 1833 there was a 'tremendous and devastating storm' which destroyed trees and houses in Exeter.    Northernhay Gardens suffered damage which was lamented by The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette in the following terms:

"....24 of these venerable and majestic elms were borne down, and several others so much injured, as to render it in all probability necessary to remove them also, by which we are deprived of much of that ornament to old Semper Fidelis, the shades of which our forefathers prized,  These relics of antiquity had, many of them, borne, if not 'the battle,'  the 'breeze' for nearly two centuries, and those of more recent growth had attained to more than the age of man.

"The largest of the trees on Northernhay have stood ever since the reign of Charles II, in the year 1664, when the historian informs us 'a pleasant walk was made on Northernhay, and above 200 young elms on each side thereof planted,' in the Mayoralities of Mr Alderman Penny and Anthony Salter.  Most of the other trees were planted about 85 years ago, by Mr. Sanders, a thatcher and gardener, by order of the Mayor and Chamber."

Once again I find myself admiring the sense of history of the citizens of Exeter, their pride of place, their particular pride in 'the fine walk of Northernhay such an agreeable promenade for the inhabitants'.  Northernhay Gardens which contribute: 'so much to the  beauty of the city in the eyes of strangers' 

Has anybody planted any trees on Northernhay lately?

The most recent big idea of today's Mayor and Chamber has been to rent out the Gardens, which our forefathers prized, for nine precious weeks as a site for a vulgar fairground regardless of the necessary (health and safety I imagine!) locking the park gates against the citizens for weeks on end, regardless of the damage to the turf, the sound pollution, the light pollution.  (the Gardens are the best place in Exeter to observe the night sky) the disturbance to wildlife &c.   All this in an age when we are supposed to care about our 'environment'! 

The reference  'battle and breeze' is to Thomas Cambell's poem which, no doubt, all our forefathers could recite verbatim - all four stanzas!  The memorable first lines read:

"Ye mariners of England

That guard our native seas!

Whose flag has braved, a thousand years, 

The battle and the breeze!"  

   Secondary Source:  The Taunton Courier, 27th February, 1833.