The Devon and Exeter Institution

Join us on Saturday 30th August, 11am-3pm, for a second-hand book sale, taking place in our beautiful Georgian library.

Visit our 'Collections highlights' book display to see this book of plates, and other treasures from our collections. On display until Friday 29th August. Free and open to all.

These words are taken from George Adam's 'Essays on the microscope' (1787), which were accompanied by a wonderful volume of plates. This particular illustration shows the lucernal microscope, invented by Adams, which projected an image onto a screen using an oil lamp as a light source.

"The microscope extends the boundaries of the organs of vision, enables us to examine the structure of plants and animals; presents to the eye myriads of beings, of whose existence we had before formed no idea".

We are accepting abstracts for our annual lecture series on subjects interacting with the theme of "A New Leaf" 🍃📚
The deadline for submissions is Monday 25th August. Please see the full call for papers on our website: devonandexeterinstitution.org/whats-on/tal...

Archives of the month: discoveries from the Manuscripts Cupboard - The Devon and Exeter Institution In this blog, we hear from Charlotte Lovell and Eloise Bennett-Voci, who joined us at the Devon and Exeter Institution on a two-week internship, as part of the University of […]

Over the last fortnight, we've been very pleased to host Eloise Bennett-Voci and Charlotte Lovell as interns from the University of Exeter's Pathways to Arts, Culture and Heritage programme.

Read their blog here:

devonandexeterinstitution.org/archives-of-...

Earlier this week, our Director Emma attended an event at the Houses of Parliament as part of a delegation of culural ambassadors from #Exeter.
We were welcomed by Jayne Kirkham MP and Steve Race MP for the launch of the Great South West Creative Industries Report greatsouthwest.co.uk/insights/

And finally finally (apols), it was an honour to welcome a new bench to the @dexinst.bsky.social courtyard garden- the first thing bought with #GoodbyeLegsRide donations. Wonderful to share this moment w Emma, DExInst Director, and Anna ExCoL Director. Proper post on that in a few days!

It is always fantastic to see a previous DH intern's subsequent endeavours! What a brilliant opportunity to work with and learn from @dexinst.bsky.social !🤩

#DigitalHumanities #DHLab #HASS #Arts #Culture #Heritage #Devon #Exeter #Interns #DHInterns #Digital #Humanities #DH #DHExeter

Drop in any time between 1 and 4pm. Free and open to all.

Two people laughing in a historic library

We've been lucky to host two interns from the University of Exeter's Pathways to Arts, Culture and Heritage programme. As you can see, it's been a hoot!

They will be on hand tomorrow, as part of our usual Wednesday tours, to tell visitors about what they've discovered.

Come see our new book display! It showcases star items identified by our collections review, including this hand-coloured lithograph illustrating G. Belzoni's researches in Egypt and Nubia (1820).

Display available to view in the Outer Library until Friday 29th August. Free and open to all.

A tour in an historic library

Join us on Tuesday 8th July for our next Librarian’s Tour.

Visit our beautiful Georgian library and see some of our historic book collections up close. No white gloves needed!

Free and open to all. Book here: webcollect.org.uk/dei/event/li...

It’s #ArtWeekExeter and we’re hosting two colourful exhibitions which are free and open to all. Crab and Bee’s ‘Matter of Britain’ and Jeremy Speck and Davina Quinlivan ‘The First Word is Hope’

Library volunteer standing in a historic library holding a book called ‘The common sense of the exact sciences’.

Our Book of the Month blog for June was written and researched by our wonderful library volunteer Edward, who has looked into the life of Exeter-born mathematician William Kingdon Clifford.

devonandexeterinstitution.org/clever-cliff...

What’s happening today? *Special edition*
We’re open from 11-4pm for @exetercityoflit Bookmarket
✔️Secondhand book sale
✔️Bookbags and merch
✔️Bibliotherapy
✔️Silent Book Club
✔️Devonshire Association
See you soon!
#in_exeter #visitexeter @exetercityoflit.bsky.social @heritagefunduk.bsky.social

Here's EVERYTHING taking place at The Book Market this Sunday at @exetercathedral.bsky.social green from 11am - 4pm.

It's looking like the weather is on our side, now we just need you to join us for this free day of literary loveliness!

Learn more: www.exetercityofliterature.com/current-proj...

It’s #VolunteersWeek2025 and we’d like to say a huge thank you to our volunteer teams, who’ve gone above and beyond to keep the Institution running smoothly this year. Find out more here..

devonandexeterinstitution.org/volunteering/

On Saturday we were very pleased to welcome members of the British Astronomical Association, who hired our Blue Room for their meeting.

We dug out some treasures from our science section for their visit, including Richard Proctor's 'The moon' (1873), which includes these stunning lunar landscapes.

It’s #JuneBoom at the Institution- as well as our usual programme, we’re offering a host of new displays, talks and events…

We are really excited to be holding our event at the brilliant Devon and Exeter Institution @dexinst.bsky.social overlooking Cathedral Green.🙌

The DEI was the townhouse of the Courtenay family of Powderham Castle. Fittingly, one of our wills/songs is that of a seafarer from Powderham. 🏰⚓🎺

We are excited to be taking part in this year's Book Market! Join us in our beautiful Georgian library for our second-hand book sale, taking place on Sunday 8th June between 11am and 4pm.

Join our One-Day Choir on Saturday 14th June 10am- 3pm!
No experience necessary – just a love of singing and a willingness to give it a go.
We’re trialing a ‘pay what you can afford’ model for this event: webcollect.org.uk/dei
Or pop in and book at the front desk.

The foxgloves are starting to come out! And this beautiful illustration from Anne Pratt's 'The poisonous, noxious and suspected plants of our fields and woods' (1857) can be seen in the 'Green Shoots' book display, which will be in the outer library until the 7th of June.

#DidYouKnowThat in May 1892 the DEI had an unlikely new rival? The West of England Boot and Shoe Supply Company had opened a reading room for its customers. Decorated in a Japanese style, it boasted the London and local daily, weekly, and illustrated papers, and a reference library.
#DYK #Exeter

Courtenay Room Cafe - open for members from June 3rd 2025 - The Devon and Exeter Institution Member news: Daily lunches (brunches and teas) are back in the Courtenay Room! After several successful years of pop-up events, we’re delighted that Charlotte Cooper has now agreed to set […]

*Lunches (brunches and teas) are back in the Courtenay Room* Don’t miss our preview lunches tomorrow and Thursday - regular daily service from June 3rd devonandexeterinstitution.org/courtenay-ro...

This illustration by James Sowerby is taken from ‘Curtis’ botanical magazine’ and was published in 1790.

A new book display in our Outer Library:

Green Shoots: horticultural treasures from our natural history collection, unearthed by our gardeners.

The display will be available to view until Saturday 7th June. Free and open to all.

Press Release - Turning the Page, May 2025 - The Devon and Exeter Institution Devon and Exeter Institution Awarded £213,000 for Groundbreaking ‘Turning the Page’ Project Following the success of The Next Chapter project, the Devon and Exeter Institution is thrilled to announce ...

*Read all about it*
Devon and Exeter Institution Awarded £213,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for Groundbreaking ‘Turning the Page’ Project…

devonandexeterinstitution.org/press-releas...