Reflective Learning Journal #3

Wednesday involved a fieldtrip for Human and Physical Geography students, the first trip of the academic year. The tour took us around parts of Exeter, where we analysed how the topography of Exeter’s urban and physical landscape has changed over the course of the last few centuries, many of which were discussed at various places on the way to the city centre.

There are many evident changes in Exeter, primarily the intertwining of both old and new infrastructures. After splitting into three groups, we were tasked with drawing what we thought was significant about two areas of study: The Guildhall Shopping Centre and The Cathedral. I didn’t managed to finish either sketch because I’m what you would call a perfectionist; I would rather draw slowly and accurately than quickly and lose detail; so I think I need to improve on this by sketching different scenes more often. This way, I will be able to sketch quickly and include any important bits of detail without the sketch being too untidy. When investigating the Guildhall Shopping Centre, the majority of people drew the Higher Market due to the historical significance of being partially destroyed by the air raid during the war. The bombing of 1942, as we learned in a previous lecture, was important for the change of the layout of the city of Exeter, changing from one with narrow streets to one whose streets were widened to accommodate for the increase in automobiles, which dominated the city centre by the mid 20^th century. I on the other hand drew St. Pancras Church. Despite being small, this church had many historical links and was culturally important to the area. Built as early as the fourth century AD by Roman Christians, this church is perhaps one of the oldest foundations of the city of Exeter (Management Office, ca.2014). Not only this but there is evidence of the remnants of a Saxon door which enhances the historical significance of the small church as it poses as an important artefact during the period of the Saxon invasion of Exeter. However, what I considered to be the most important image of the area was that this ancient building, situated in the centre of the courtyard, was surrounded by contemporary buildings and shops. The modern shops and buildings drastically contrasted the church and I decided that the entwining of the two eras was both locally and globally significant to the area as it stood as a symbol of mankind’s technological advancements and change from ancient to modern ways of living; both dominated by economy, consumption and expansion but in a different way. I think this kind of analysis of the area shows some of my strengths in this field because I can think of the ways in which there are geographical links to different things, which I have also shown in a previous tutorial session.

Later in the day, we had the task of drawing and identifying different stones that were used in the construction of the wall of Rougemont Castle. I found this task very difficult to do because it was a Physical Geography exercise and, as I mainly focus on Human Geography, I have little knowledge of geology and therefore I definitely cannot identify rock types. It is now obvious to me that I have a lack of knowledge in this topic area and perhaps I need to do some research into some of the fields of Physical Geography to improve my understanding but geology is not something I take interest in. Currently I do not know where to start geological research but I assume core textbooks or journals are my best bet.

Reference

Management Office (ca.2014) St Pancras Church, <http://www.guildhallshoppingexeter.co.uk/st-pancras-church.html>.

~ Jones' Journal