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As you exit Martins Lane, in front of you and slightly to your right you'll see Tudor and Jacobean shop frontages that were renovated when C&A moved in during 1972. Boots had occupied this site before they moved to the top of the High Street in the early seventies. Tesco moved in when C&A ceased trading in the UK in February 2001. Turn left and immediately on your left is Laura Ashley housed in a pair of gable-ended buildings dating from 1549. The pair in fact were built as a single structure. Head south west down High Street past Marks and Spencer (the former site of Waltons), you are following the old path of the Roman Ickneild Way at this point. For further information on the buildings in High Street, click here.

To your right you'll see the Guildhall and on the opposite side of the road is the tall red tower of St. Petrock's Church. At this point before the main road was diverted to its present course, the Ickneild Way took a turn to the left and ran across part of what is now the Cathedral Close and continued its course to the river through the down and through the West Gate. The High Street was diverted to its present position when the Cathedral's Wall was built after 1286. Take a look at the plaque and post on the wall of the Halifax Bank which marks the old site of Broadgate (removed 1825), one of the old cathedral gates. Before Broadgate was constructed, this approach to the Cathedral Yard was called The Fissand. The gate was also known as St Michaels Gate because of the staue of St Michael the Archangel overcoming the Devil which stood above the gate.

The Halifax occupies the site of one Exeter's first banks, the Exeter Bank which was originally built adjoining the building that became the Royal Clarence Hotel. If you look closely you'll see that the Halifax occupies two original buildings, those of the Exeter Bank and the City Bank.

The Turks Head was one of Exeter's oldest pubs, but unfortunately closed on 6th January 2005. See the Bygone section of this website for more information. Inside you would have found a large bar area, and being a fairly central pub this place was generally packed on Friday & Saturday nights. The ceiling of front bar was fairly interesting and hadn't really been touched despite several refurbishment's over the years. There was a balcony with archways which was allegedly haunted by a lady in a long flowing gown that appeared on one of the balconies. In the lower bar was a corner in which Charles Dickens used to sit, Dicken's Corner. It was here he is said to have picked up Fat Boy in Pickwick Papers. He also found at Exeter, Mrs Lupin of the Blue Dragon (Martin Chuzzlewit), and Pecksniff. Dickens leased Mile End Cottage in Alphington for his parents and was a frequent visitor.

Guildhall

The Guildhall next door is one of the oldest municipal properties in England, first recorded in 1160 and at various times has been used as a prison.