Exeter was second in the sequence of Sharp's three major reconstruction plans, produced as it was after Durham and before Oxford. However, the process which led to his appointment began before Durham, with Sharp a short-listed candidate to undertake the work whilst still seconded on Ministry work, having been one of the recommendations by the Town Planning Institute. Indeed, the Council resolved to appoint Sharp in February 1943, before any communication had taken place with Durham, but there was then a hiatus and it was May 1944 before an agreement was completed.
Exeter was the only one of the historic cities that Sharp worked on to have received major war-time damage; his brief was to prepare a plan with particular reference to 'the historical and architectural character of the city, the reconstruction of built-up areas and particularly areas which have been devastated by enemy action, and the allocation of undeveloped land to its best use' (Prefatory Note). Sharp estimated that the city had lost something like half of its buildings of architectural merit through bombing. The report discusses at length those buildings destroyed, especially the Georgian buildings, such as Bedford Circus, to the east of the Cathedral. However, the purpose of his discussion was not to propose reinstatement of similar buildings or even the retention of the street plan. On the contrary it was used to mobilise support for Sharp's proposals for clearly contemporary interventions, built to a new street plan. First, Bedford Circus was cited as a successful contemporary intervention of its day, an area of frankly new architecture constructed on a new street plan that had become one of the most valued areas of the city. Second, Sharp argued that the popular perception of Exeter as a medieval city was misplaced and that, the cathedral apart, the principal architectural merits of the city were Georgian. He outlined four possible forms rebuilding might take. Firstly restoration, which he argued would produce a dead museum. Second and thirdly, a functionally modern city with medieval imagery or with eighteenth and nineteenth century dress; i.e. a functional modern city cloaked in historic styles of architecture. He thought that these approaches might be popular with the public but would be contemptible. Finally, and his strongly favoured option, was modern renewal, sympathetic to, but not imitative of existing forms. New development should be of a similar scale to the buildings that had been lost, and be intimate rather than monumental in form.
Other proposals included creating a green 'moat' around Exeter's medieval walls, which had survived largely intact, albeit often obscured by later buildings. This was not intended to be a monumental treatment - he sought the creation of a narrow and almost notional green strip, in one place merely proposing shaving a narrow strip off gardens for a public walkway. The report contained extensive road proposals, including road widening and the creation of a roundabout at the heart of the city where High Street, Fore Street, North Street and South Street converge. He also proposed new areas for industry.
Sharp's own consideration of the Exeter plan in Chronicles of Failure (Sharp c. 1973) concentrated on his developing ideas of townscape. In particular he discussed how he sought to base his planning of towns and cities upon an understanding of genius loci and to avoid standardised solutions. It is notable that in Exeter Phoenix he introduced the device of an introductory section outwith the main planning proposals (which was mostly concerned with establishing the character of Exeter) and tailpiece (mostly concerned with townscape principles). He subsequently reprised this approach of semi-detached commentaries in his Oxford plan. The main body of the plan also included proposals specifically geared to enhancing the townscape, such as the selective creation of new views of the cathedral.
Elements of the Exeter plan were implemented. These have not always been considered to be a success (Stansfield, 1981) but their subsequent redevelopment has prompted further appraisal (While & Tait, 2007).
Sharp, T. (c. 1973). Chronicles of Failure. GB 186 THS. Newcastle upon Tyne: 296.
Stansfield, K. (1981). Thomas Sharp 1901-1978 in Pioneers in British Planning. G. Cherry. London, The Architectural Press: 150-176.
While, A. & Tait, M. (2007). Thomas Sharp's Physical Legacy: Exeter's Princesshay in Retrospect and Prospect. Visual Planning and Urbanism in the Mid-Twentieth Century Conference, Newcastle upon Tyne 13-15 September.
Thanks are due to Peter Larkham for making his archival notes from Exeter Corporation council records available.