For hundreds of years, visitors have flocked to Exeter Cathedral to marvel at its exquisite architecture, but perhaps even more intriguing is where the public can't go or what cannot be seen.
The Cathedral of St Peter, to give it its full name, is located on the site of a Roman army camp and its origins date back to 1050 when the Bishop of Crediton and St Germans moved to Exeter.
Today's cathedral owes its Gothic style to Bishop Bronscon who started rebuilding work around 1290.
It is renowned as one of the great cathedrals of England, and one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture anywhere.
Although much is known about its history, here is some of its hidden secrets that people may not be so familiar with:
The Dog Whippers Flat
A long forgotten role is 'whippers' who were employed in cathedral's from the 16th to 19th centuries to remove stray dogs from the building and to keep the ones that came in lawfully with their owners under control.
Their kit included a rod and a special set of expanding tongs to reach dogs that squeezed themselves into awkward to reach places. The cathedral still has the rod that was used and it is believed to be one of the oldest in existence.
The room, which is not currently open to the public, is used for storage and in the past would have been sued to store church records. The cathedral is looking at whether it can open it up to the public.
The room has a large fireplace with a bread oven which possibly could have been used to bake communion bread. To the left of the fireplace is the remains of a cupboard which would have stored valuables.
The sluggard waker
Another unusual position in the cathedral was the sluggard waker who had a long wooden pole with a brass knob on one end and a foxes tail or something similar on the other.
The brass end was used to prod any man in the back who had dared fall asleep during a service, and the fluffy end was used on women who had nodded off to tickle them awake.
It was an 18th-century job undertaken by a parishioner.
The Wake-up Bell Toller
The Dog Whippers flat is also believed to have be used to accommodate the cathedral's bell toller.
His job was to ring the cathedral's toll bell at 5am to make sure everyone in the city who had to be at work for 5.30am got up in time.
The cathedral's archives show he was once fined for missing the 5am bell. He would have also rung a curfew bell to close the city gates on significant occasions.
Hidden carving inside effigy
Sir Richard Stapleton died in 1326. His effigy and monument can be found towards the back of the cathedral.
He was murdered in London while trying to rescue his brother, Walter de Stapledon - Bishop of Exeter - from an angry mob.
Appointed by the unpopular Edward II as 'Keeper' of the City of London, he found himself at odds with the Lord Mayor and the population who were supporters of Queen Isabella.
Seeking refuge in St. Paul's Cathedral proved unsuccessfuln - a mob entered the cathedral, beat him and dragged him to Cheapside where he was murdered.
The bishop's head was chopped off and his body was thrown onto a dunghill "to be torn and devoured by dogs."
His body was later recovered and buried in the sand of the shoreline of the River Thames next to the bishop's palace at Exeter House.
Some six months later the Queen ordered his body to be exhumed and taken to Exeter Cathedral for reburial.
Sir Richard was buried in Exeter Cathedral, near his brother against the north wall across the north ambulatory from the bishop's tomb.
His tomb is marked by an elaborate monument comprising a recessed ogee shaped niche set into the wall, containing his recumbent effigy, in the form of a cross-legged knight, which style supposedly represents crusaders.
The hidden secret most people don't know is that tucked away in a corner of the tomb is a coloured carving depiciting the king who allegedly running away.
Witch Marks
Exeter is famous for its witchcraft trials. It has long been known Exeter was one of the last epicentres for witchcraft.
However, a lesser known fact is it was also home to one of the very first witch executions.
Exeter Cathedral has numerous witch marks around the building, most commonly on places of entry such as doors, fireplaces and windows.
The markings are believed to have turned away evil, providing protection to the building and those who lived or worked within it.
The evil that was being ‘turned away’ may have been demons, witches or the then ever present evil eye.
One of the most common types of witch marks found within our properties is the daisy wheel, also known as the hexafoil. As the name suggests, the symbol takes the form of a six petalled flower.
The daisy wheel would have been drawn using a compass and as such looks very geometrical in design.
Wall Painting
High up on the wall outside the Lady Chapel is an unusual early 16th century wall painting of the Assumption of the Virgin. She is shown standing, with hands clasped in prayer, surrounded by rays of light and with the nine orders of angels around.
It is a large painting, but because it is high up and partially obscured by a large late 17th century wall monument it is easy to miss. In the 1930s Professor Tristram undertook some conservation of the memorial and painted a copy, which is still displayed beneath the original.
Many only notice this copy, without ever looking up at the original.
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