I just can’t resist taking pictures on my customary morning walk through sumptuous historic Exeter, capital of the West Country of England — more or less. We don’t count Bristol this far West.

The first is a building dated 1596 which, typically has been converted to commercial use. I don’t know what it was used for originally, but they obviously foresaw a future gap in the market for backdrops to TV series like, Miss Marple and Midsomer Murders.

Below is the ancient Guildhall — would you believe more than 800 years old? It was once used as a market for the wool trade as well as for gatherings of the local Council.

Finally, sauntering through the new Princesshay mega shopping mall and chill-out zone, I caught these glimpses of the old town and cathedral, nicely set against the modern stuff.

I’ll be heading down the road to the coast next week to sample the delights of Exmouth, Topsham and Dartmouth (the original, not the American college town).

You can see all of this clutch of pictures on our new Syntagma Flickr Photostream.

Could this be the first glimpse of the new Syntagma Towers?

It’s not what you think. I’ve drawn the building rather than show you a photograph, in case others move in before us. It’s a cut-throat market here.

This extraordinary house is situated on the edge of a fabulous country estate on the River Dart in Devon, England. It was designed in the 19th century by a famous cathedral architect in the Gothic (medieval) style when John Ruskin was all the rage.

The window lights are exquisitely carved out of sandstone, as is the noble fireplace. There’s also a tower nearby, designed by the same architect.

Needless to say, my drawing doesn’t do justice to the place, but is designed to keep the predators at bay.

More on this later. It’s the first prime candidate for the new Syntagma Towers.

Stay close.

Info : You can see all these photos on our Flickr Photostream.

The continuing search for the new Syntagma Towers goes on. I was up early today marching around Exeter and environs on the lookout for a suitable building — as I have been for many days (see previous posts).

The first pic was taken at lunchtime yesterday and shows how the Cathedral Close is used as a picnic ground by canny residents and tourists :

I do envy the tower of the cathedral, but don’t whisper it to a soul, will you?

So how about Parliament Street? Surely that must be grand enough for the new Syntagma HQ? I should tell you in passing that there hasn’t been a Parliament in Exeter for a great many centuries. Maybe that’s why the street has slimmed down a bit :

Amazing, isn’t it? It’s just over 2 feet in width and even has its own grafitti artist. If John Prescott ever got stuck in there, I doubt anyone would pull him out. He’d be yet another tourist attraction.

So no Syntagma Towers there then. Right, let’s look at the Elizabethan end of town :

Not quite towerish enough, is it? And the encroachment of the modern shops below doesn’t quite hit the spot. How about this then?

The building just visible on the extreme left is the Royal Clarence Hotel where Sir Francis Drake, of Mayflower fame, is reputed to have sunk the local ale. It’s now run by a trendy celebrity chef, so No Thanks.

OK, we’ll try the Georgian town, Southernhay, on the other side of Princesshay :

Now this is a distinct possibility … except, the place is full of lawyers and upmarket estate agents. Alas, not for us.

Something modern then? Here’s the entrance site of the new Princesshay Shop-Till-You-Drop zone, which is still under construction :

Alas, we’re going to have to take a trip out of town in our search for a new Syntagma Towers. There’s a holiday weekend coming up, so I’ll be looking further afield, along the coast and around the Dart Estuary and river.

This is an unusually quiet period here at Syntagma, helped by the English weather, which thinks it’s mid-summer.

Meanwhile, Thord is working hard on our new network magazine, Moneyizor, from his Swedish castle, amid the snows of the North Lands — and between watching the world snooker championships on TV. He’s busy forging our newest design, which should be unveiled next week. Mark it in your diary.

As we have now got the office in some order, after building work and new computers, I thought I would regale you with some pics taken on my morning walk. I know, I’m too good to you!

The Morning Walk has taken on added significance since we’ve been looking for a replacement for Syntagma Towers. Regular readers will know that we were beaten to the punch on Rougemont Castle, which was sold to a property company, by Charlie Falconer of dubious provenance.

However, my early morning trek of around five miles takes in some of the most historic sites in East Devon, so should provide possible substitutes. Not this next building though :

For it is Exeter Cathedral, and even I can’t bring myself to covet it, given its present owner (touches forelock).

Apart from the castle and the cathedral, the route takes me through our Farmers’ Market (pictured) :

and through some very ancient buildings and byways. I’ll show you Parliament Street at a later date. Astonishingly, it’s only 3 feet wide. Don’t believe me? Wait and see. Who says size zero is a modern phenomenon?

The route also takes me into the most spectacular development in Devon — the new shopping and chill-out zone at Princesshay. Most of it is still being built, but the bits that are open for business have attracted some upmarket clients, including a genuine Spanish tapas bar (which takes me back to the seven years I spent in Andalucia) a Trattoria and French coffee shop. Whatever happened to Anglo-Saxon England?

I’ll show you some pics of Princesshay tomorrow.

My route then circles round the historic centre and rises up and out of the city back to Syntagma Towers, from whose heights you can see America (I jest), and which makes the Leaning Tower of Pisa seem an upright sort of edifice.

One final glimpse then of Rougemont Castle and thoughts of what might have been :

Ah, the impregnability of the place!