The Devon and Exeter Institution

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The Devon and Exeter Institution Thriving Independent Historic Library and Educational Charity, welcoming new members of all ages.

💙 A busy month in the Blue Room!It’s been a lively few weeks at the Devon and Exeter Institution, with organisations inc...
10/10/2026

💙 A busy month in the Blue Room!

It’s been a lively few weeks at the Devon and Exeter Institution, with organisations including the Royal Ballet and Opera and the Royal Geographical Society choosing us to host their conferences and away days.

Alongside this, we’re proud to be the home of the Exeter UNESCO City of Literature Partnership Network, convened by Anna Cohn Orchard - a diverse community of creative professionals and cultural leaders who come together each month to share ideas, build connections and shape the future of our city.

This month, we were delighted to welcome Emily Williams (Knowlson), Exeter’s new Head of Culture, for a conversation about positive ways forward for the cultural sector.

Bringing people together, making space for ideas and encouraging new collaborations -surely this is exactly what the Blue Room was made for. 💙



Exeter UNESCO City of Literature
Arts Council England
The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Exeter Heritage Champions

Are you a student interested in early photography, social history, cultural history or life during World War 1? Why not ...
09/10/2026

Are you a student interested in early photography, social history, cultural history or life during World War 1? Why not drop into our dissertation session to view this photographic window into the first two decades of the twentieth century?! 📸

Tuesday 20th October, 2-4pm 📜

08/10/2026

🔬 Cabinet of Curiosity

📚 A little behind the scenes at the DEI today, as the doors are fitted to our new Cabinets of Curiosity.

📚The cabinets are being created in homage to our illustrious predecessor William Elford Leach FRS (1790–1836).
connecting the Institution’s history of curiosity and discovery with its future.

🪚As ever, it’s a pleasure to work with and with grateful thanks to the for making this possible. ✨






Are you a student interested in the history of crime, punishment and journalism? 🔎📜Why not drop in to our free Dissertat...
02/10/2026

Are you a student interested in the history of crime, punishment and journalism? 🔎📜Why not drop in to our free Dissertation Inspiration session to learn more about our collection! There are plenty of opportunities to conduct original research here at the DEI!

Tuesday 20th October, 2-4pm

October at the DEI! 📚🎃We have an exciting range of events across the month! Save for your calendars 📌Ticketed events can...
02/10/2026

October at the DEI! 📚🎃

We have an exciting range of events across the month! Save for your calendars 📌

Ticketed events can be booked via Ticket Tailor (link in bio)

Exeter UNESCO City of Literature Exeter Heritage Champions The National Lottery Heritage Fund In Exeter

📚 Heritage Open Days | It’s a wrap…That’s a wrap on Heritage Open Days at the Institution. 💗📚Across two talks and six to...
23/09/2026

📚 Heritage Open Days | It’s a wrap…

That’s a wrap on Heritage Open Days at the Institution. 💗

📚Across two talks and six tours we welcomed more than 150 people to share different perspectives on the Institution’s historic collection, building and the stories it holds.

📚But perhaps the best part was seeing the library filled with people who were curious enough to come, listen, ask questions and share their own connections and memories.

Thank you to everyone who joined us. 📚

countryhousetreasures

Exeter UNESCO City of Literature

Visit Exeter
The National Lottery Heritage Fund

What's on at the DEI this month 📣📚 As well as our regular monthly events, this month we are hosting special tours and 'M...
01/09/2026

What's on at the DEI this month 📣

📚 As well as our regular monthly events, this month we are hosting special tours and 'Meet the Researcher' sessions where you will have the opportunity to speak to our members of staff about our historic collections.

📚 This is part of the Heritage Open Days programme which is themed around 'Everyday Histories' - why not step behind the doors of one of Exeter's hidden gems and uncover the everyday stories that have shaped the Devon and Exeter Institution.

📚Further information about our programme and events can be found on our website (link in bio)

Exeter UNESCO City of Literature The National Lottery Heritage Fund Exeter Heritage Champions Heritage Open Days

It’s a good day when capital works are completed early! 🙌🔨The team from Jamie Simmonds constructed the newspaper bays of...
27/08/2026

It’s a good day when capital works are completed early! 🙌

🔨The team from Jamie Simmonds constructed the newspaper bays off site and installed them with millimetre accuracy - and all four bays are now in place and drying, ready for reshelving next week.

📚And there’s more to come… glazed doors for the Cabinet of Curiosities are on their way! ✨



Exeter UNESCO City of Literature
The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Visit Exeter

📷

24/08/2026

📚 What’s happening today…? New edition.





There are two weeks left to come see our book display - 'The Weather Keepers: 158 years of observation at the DEI' - whi...
18/08/2026

There are two weeks left to come see our book display - 'The Weather Keepers: 158 years of observation at the DEI' - which was curated by Deborah Ashfield (PhD researcher) ☔️☀️

This will be available to view until the end of day, 29th August.

From Tuesday 1st September our display of 'Poisonous Books' will be free to view (if you dare 👀☠️)

Exeter UNESCO City of Literature The National Lottery Heritage Fund Exeter Heritage Champions

Address

7 Cathedral Close
Exeter
EX11EZ

Telephone

01392274727

Website

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