Northernhay Gardens is an interesting place as it runs alongside the Central train station and is also next to the castle, which are both very busy places but it still manages to remain peaceful and calm. It is a very well maintained set of grounds and there are different paths you can take which offers a bit of variety. Quite often during the sunny days the nearby students and workers will take a quick break and rest on the grass by the row of Sweetgum. There are ways to get into the gardens and there are plenty of bins and benches. The two highlights of this place are the Handkerchief tree and the Paperbark maple.
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Photo of information board
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Aerial view of the area, courtesy of Google
PHOTOS
QUICK FACTS
  • There are three entrances. The two main entrances are from the back of the High street and also Queen street
  • There are 14 bins and 16 benches the last time I checked
  • There is a small pond which is centrally placed
  • They are the oldest public open space in England, being originally laid out in 1612 as a pleasure walk for Exeter residents
  • Northernhay Gardens was quarried in Roman times for stone from which to build the adjacent city walls
  • In the Norman period it formed part of the defences of the castle
  • Northernhay Gardens are of outstanding historic significance.
  • They were laid out by the City Chamber for the public recreation at an unusually early date of 1612
  • This early park was destroyed in the Civil War
  • In 1642 large new defensive ditches were dug outside the walls for the city's defence
  • Soon after the restoration, in 1664, the city set about restoring the park, planting hundreds of young elms
  • Only a minute's walk off the High Street, the main access is off Northernhay Place (behind Boots) and Queen Street
  • The opening times are 7.30am until dusk - but these may change so please be mindful of this
  • In the mid 1900s the mature avenue of elms lining the central walk succumbed to Dutch Elm Disease and were felled
  • The Volunteer Memorial (1895), designed by S. K. Greenslade, commemorates the formation of the 1st Rifle Volunteers in 1852
  • The Exeter War Memorial by local sculptor John Angel was constructed in 1923
  • Events are sometimes held on the grounds. The Tourist and information centre is your best for details
  • The Handkerchief tree is very pretty and blossoms in May
  • The Exeter Memories page has lots of useful information and history