The Devon and Exeter Institution

Join us next week for our Librarian’s Tour, for a look at some of our special collections. No white gloves needed!

Tuesday 19 November, 11am.

No need to book, just turn up. Free and open to everyone.

Please note that our entrance is currently via Chapel Street.

Today we’re thinking about a devastating event eight years ago: We witnessed The Royal Clarence fire from the roof of the Institution, where staff and trustees maintained a fire watch for the three days it took to burn down.
Although the scars from 2016 have not yet healed, in other parts of Cathedral Close, there is hope and renewal.
The Institution will be fully reopening for its next chapter in January. A place where thoughtfulness, knowledge, creativity, science, literature and the arts have been central since 1813 and with our new focus on welcome and inclusion, a safe and comfortable space for all.
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Here is a breakdown of our November events programme:

As always, we will be offering free tours every Wednesday. These will be lead by our wonderful volunteers from 1-4pm.

Our "Green Shoots" members' gardening group will take place on Thursday 4th & 21st November. Old and new members are welcome to attend!

On 16th November, "Bookworms" - our junior members' club (ages 5-8) - will be making Dutch Christmas biscuits and will learn all about "Sinterklass." Booking is essential.

The Librarian's tour will take place on Tuesday 19th November. This is open to all. This is an opportunity to learn more about our collection and how we preserve our historic library.

Last, but not least, our 2024/25 lecture series - "Turning the Page" will kick off on Thursday 21st November. Viktor J. Speredelozzi will present a paper titled "Necromancer Monks: the Cultural Context of Monks Summoning Demons Using Ritual Magic." Doors open at 6pm. A refreshment will be provided upon arrival. Booking essential. Tickets £10.

Its ! We've been admiring these illustrations from 1886 and learning how to identify these fun guys. These images were taken from 'Hymenomycetes Britannici' by John Stevenson
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Our 2024/25 series of lectures are now open for booking. Click the link here to purchase your tickets or head to our website. https://webcollect.org.uk/dei

Tickets are £10 and include a beverage on arrival (non-alcoholic options available)🥂

This year's theme is 'Turning the Page,' and we are very excited to welcome some new voices into the Devon and Exeter Institution as we transition into a new chapter 📚 From medieval demon summoning, to nineteenth century sanitary movements and alien expeditions, this lecture series has a little bit of something for everyone!

We look forward to seeing you there!

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✨Our Venue Hire information Pack is available now on our website for download. ✨

Our new rooms will be ready to hire from January 2025 onwards.😉

We are very excited to reopen the books for hiring out our stunning spaces and to share images and details for each of these rooms in the coming months.

If you would like to enquire about bookings, please get in touch with us at 📨[email protected]


The National Lottery Heritage Fund
InExeter
Exeter Unesco City of Literature
Independent Libraries Association

It’s ! And we are spotlighting the 'Memoir and Correspondence of Caroline Herschel' (1876), which tells the story of a remarkable early nineteenth-century astronomer. Often remembered as the devoted assistant of her brother, William Herschel, Caroline made many significant contributions to in her own right, including the discovery of several comets.

In 1828, she became the first woman to be awarded a Gold Medal by the Royal Astronomical Society, and in 1835 she was one of the first women to be named an honorary member.

Not one, but three books for October's Book of the Month blog!

'Double, double toil and trouble' was written by our three work experience students, who joined us in July.

Thanks to Amelie, Edward and Toby!

Read the blog here: https://devonandexeterinstitution.org/double-double-toil-and-trouble/

📚And that’s a wrap - 11 Heritage open day tours done ✔️
👷‍♂️We welcomed over 100 visitors to our ‘behind the scenes’ tours last week
✍️To celebrate the final phase of the Next Chapter project, we’re offering *new* trial memberships (£10 day / £25 week) and this fee is deductible if you decide to become an annual member
❤️Join us and support a unique chapter of Exeter’s heritage with fabulous member benefits
🗒️Details here (IG link in bio) https://devonandexeterinstitution.org/membership/

Join us tomorrow on a free Hard Hat Tour, for a sneak peek behind the scenes of our building works.

Tours take place at 1pm, 2pm and 3pm as part of

No need to book, just turn up. Entrance is via Chapel Street.

Exeter Canal in 1916

These images are from a photograph album in our archives and manuscripts collections. Listings for these collections can be found on our catalogue or by searching Discovery.

Plenty of literary Heritage Open Days across Exeter and Devon are coming up this September!

Explore Exeter Library's special collection, learn about the history of printmaking with Double Elephant Print Workshop, and have a special librarian's tour of The Devon and Exeter Institution (pictured).

See the full list of Devon locations and all that's on offer here: https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/whats-on/printable-area-lists/devon.html

📺Tune in on Thursday 5th September 9pm on to see actor, presenter and deaf rights campaigner Rose Ayling-Ellis in search of her family history in Devon.

🌹Rose, her interpreters and the crew visited the institution last year, to film part of Rose’s journey.
a.e is currently presenting the Paralympic coverage on - the first deaf person to anchor a live television programme. We love how Rose is removing barriers - an aim which is close to our hearts at the Institution.

We can’t wait to tune in…. The segment was filmed mid way through our building works but our fully conserved historic libraries and refurbished reading and events spaces will be available for film and TV location hire again from January 2025.