Medieval market at Exeter Cathedral

Exeter Cathedral is celebrating English Tourism Week (5th – 13th March 2016) with the hosting of a Spring Fair, the first such event in recent times.

The magnificent nave of Exeter Cathedral, which houses the longest continuous vaulted ceiling in Europe, is to return to its medieval roots for the hosting of the fair, which takes place this Thursday 10th March 2016 between 10.30am and 4pm.
Unlike its medieval ancestor, the modern day Spring Fair will be a quieter affair (no trading in live animals!) and will feature an array of stalls selling crafts and artisan gifts. Visitors will also be able to take time out to enjoy a traditional Devon Cream Tea provided by the Cathedral Café and explore the rest of the Cathedral, some of which dates back to the 12th century.

Specialists from Bonhams (who are sponsoring the event) will be on hand throughout the day offering a free valuation service, so bring along your pictures and other objects. Visitors will also be able to catch up on the progress of the Big LEGO® Build since its launch last month and purchase their own LEGO models of the Cathedral and other items from the Cathedral Shop.

Paul Courtney is the Development Director at the Cathedral and has been working with local traders to plan the fair. He said:

“This is an exciting new event for the Cathedral and we are looking forward to seeing lots of people and enjoying a day of shopping in support of the Cathedral. We may not be able to offer completely guilt-free shopping, but with all of our stallholders donating 10% of their sales to the Cathedral you can shop knowing your purchases are helping to preserve the Cathedral for many years to come.”

English Tourism Week is an annual event, delivered in partnership with Visit England, showcasing the quality and vibrancy of visitor experiences around the UK. Tickets for the Spring Fair, which includes admission to the Cathedral, are priced at £7.50 (admission only) and £10.00 (admission and a Devon Cream Tea). Visitors can book online (exeter-cathedral.org.uk/boxoffice), by telephone (01392 285983) or pay on the day.