Livery Dole
Encyclopedia
Livery Dole is now a street and crossroads
in the Heavitree
area of Exeter
in Devon
, England
. It was originally a triangle of land between what is now Heavitree Road, Polsloe Road and Magdalen Road. The name derives from the Old English "Leofhere", a man who owned the land, and dole, meaning a piece of land.
A local landmark is the Chapel of St. Clare
, built of red Heavitree stone between 1418 and 1439, originally as a chantry
to pray for the souls of the executed (see below). The adjacent Almshouse
s were founded March 1591, and completed in 1594,.
Livery Dole also is notable for having a Victorian lamp post with an inscription written in memory of "Charles George Gordon, 26th January 1885". This was placed in memory of the famous British General Gordon who was killed in the siege of Khartoum
in 1885. He was a friend of Heavitree vicar, Prebendery Barnes who paid for the memorial .
The area is now a place of bustling modern commerce, known for its shopping facilities and car dealerships.
, treason
, heresy
or witchcraft
. The most notable execution on the site was the burning of Protestant martyr Thomas Benet at the stake for his religious beliefs in 1531. Burning furze was pushed into his mouth when he refused to deny his heresy of nailing a message on Exeter Cathedral
's west door proclaiming the pope
to be an anti-christ and rejecting his supremacy in religious affairs .
One man was shot with a revolver by a Sir Thomas Heely and another fainted and was rushed to hospital because he needed an emergency operation to restore a muscle in his heart. Two monuments were later erected to his memory, one at the Almshouses at Livery Dole and another, a pillar of Dartmoor
Granite
, in nearby Denmark Road . This monument was designed by Harry Hems (1842–1916) and was erected in 1909 with the money raised through public subscription. It also commemorates the death of Agnes Prest who was burnt at the stake in 1557. Two sides of the obelisk depict Benet banging on the door of the Cathedral and dying at the stake while a plaque reads:
"IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF THOMAS BENET, M.A. WHO SUFFERED AT LIVERY DOLE, A.D. 1531, FOR DENYING THE SUPREMACY OF THE POPE, AND OF
AGNES PREST WHO SUFFERED ON SOUTHERNHAY A.D. 1557, FOR REFUSING TO ACCEPT THE DOCTRINE OF TRANSUBSTANTIATION. "FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH."
In 1851, the iron ring which was placed around the victim's bodies and the chain which attached them to the stake were found.
Crossroads (culture)
In folk magic and mythology, crossroads may represent a location "between the worlds" and, as such, a site where supernatural spirits can be contacted and paranormal events can take place...
in the Heavitree
Heavitree
Heavitree is a district of Exeter, Devon, England. Part of the historic district is currently one of the wards for elections to the City Council. Formerly an independent Urban District, it became a part of Exeter in 1913...
area of Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It was originally a triangle of land between what is now Heavitree Road, Polsloe Road and Magdalen Road. The name derives from the Old English "Leofhere", a man who owned the land, and dole, meaning a piece of land.
A local landmark is the Chapel of St. Clare
Clare of Assisi
Clare of Assisi , born Chiara Offreduccio, is an Italian saint and one of the first followers of Saint Francis of Assisi...
, built of red Heavitree stone between 1418 and 1439, originally as a chantry
Chantry
Chantry is the English term for a fund established to pay for a priest to celebrate sung Masses for a specified purpose, generally for the soul of the deceased donor. Chantries were endowed with lands given by donors, the income from which maintained the chantry priest...
to pray for the souls of the executed (see below). The adjacent Almshouse
Almshouse
Almshouses are charitable housing provided to enable people to live in a particular community...
s were founded March 1591, and completed in 1594,.
Livery Dole also is notable for having a Victorian lamp post with an inscription written in memory of "Charles George Gordon, 26th January 1885". This was placed in memory of the famous British General Gordon who was killed in the siege of Khartoum
Khartoum
Khartoum is the capital and largest city of Sudan and of Khartoum State. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile flowing north from Lake Victoria, and the Blue Nile flowing west from Ethiopia. The location where the two Niles meet is known as "al-Mogran"...
in 1885. He was a friend of Heavitree vicar, Prebendery Barnes who paid for the memorial .
The area is now a place of bustling modern commerce, known for its shopping facilities and car dealerships.
Place of Execution
Livery Dole was a place of execution until 1818 when Samuel Holmyard was hanged for passing a forged City Bank one pound note. People were executed here for crimes such as murderMurder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
, treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
, heresy
Heresy
Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...
or witchcraft
Witchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
. The most notable execution on the site was the burning of Protestant martyr Thomas Benet at the stake for his religious beliefs in 1531. Burning furze was pushed into his mouth when he refused to deny his heresy of nailing a message on Exeter Cathedral
Exeter Cathedral
Exeter Cathedral, the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter at Exeter, is an Anglican cathedral, and the seat of the Bishop of Exeter, in the city of Exeter, Devon in South West England....
's west door proclaiming the pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
to be an anti-christ and rejecting his supremacy in religious affairs .
One man was shot with a revolver by a Sir Thomas Heely and another fainted and was rushed to hospital because he needed an emergency operation to restore a muscle in his heart. Two monuments were later erected to his memory, one at the Almshouses at Livery Dole and another, a pillar of Dartmoor
Dartmoor
Dartmoor is an area of moorland in south Devon, England. Protected by National Park status, it covers .The granite upland dates from the Carboniferous period of geological history. The moorland is capped with many exposed granite hilltops known as tors, providing habitats for Dartmoor wildlife. The...
Granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
, in nearby Denmark Road . This monument was designed by Harry Hems (1842–1916) and was erected in 1909 with the money raised through public subscription. It also commemorates the death of Agnes Prest who was burnt at the stake in 1557. Two sides of the obelisk depict Benet banging on the door of the Cathedral and dying at the stake while a plaque reads:
"IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF THOMAS BENET, M.A. WHO SUFFERED AT LIVERY DOLE, A.D. 1531, FOR DENYING THE SUPREMACY OF THE POPE, AND OF
AGNES PREST WHO SUFFERED ON SOUTHERNHAY A.D. 1557, FOR REFUSING TO ACCEPT THE DOCTRINE OF TRANSUBSTANTIATION. "FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH."
In 1851, the iron ring which was placed around the victim's bodies and the chain which attached them to the stake were found.