The original Hickory Dickory Dock Clock

In 1484, Bishop Courtenay is said to have given Exeter Cathedral a new clock, including the large dial to be seen on the North Wall, and the Great Peter Bell, weighing 125 cwt which hangs in the tower above. At the center of the dial is a globe representing the earth. Round it revolves the moon, turning on its axis to show its phases. The Fleur-de-Lys representing the sun revolving round the earth in 24 hours, points to the hour on the outer circle of figures and to the monthly age of the moon on the inner circle, which is geared to revolve at a slower rate. The small dial above shows the minutes and was only added in 1760.

The motto translation: 'the days pass and are reckoned to our account.'

The ropes were greased with fat which attracted mice and rats who nibbled at them so a hole was made in the door below to permit the Bishop's cat to do his job - it is thought that this is the origin of the nursery rhyme ' Hickory Dickory Dock, the mouse ran up the clock. The clock struck one, the mouses ran down. Hickory Dickory Dock'

Large cat hole