Press release 31 March 2025

For immediate publication

The Devon and Exeter Institution completes The Next Chapter project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The Devon and Exeter Institution, an independent library and educational charity in the heart of Exeter, has completed its Next Chapter project, thanks to a grant of 1.8 million pounds from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

This three-year project has supported the Institution to reach a wider range of people. The renovations to the building have opened-up access, audiences have grown, and new membership categories are reaching new groups. The new flexible education spaces allow for a wider range of groups and organisations to engage with the Institution and its charitable work of education and preservation.

The Institution is actively contributing to making the city a better place to live, work or visit. It is an oasis of calm, and a sanctuary from the hurly burly of the city. The building itself is a beautiful and inspiring space, which is lovely to be in. It offers a strong cultural programme, with diverse events and activities which aid people’s wellbeing and enhance their appreciation of the local heritage.

Over the course of the project, the Institution has improved the identification and explanation of its heritage, as well as people’s engagement with it. It has opened its doors to more people, reviewed its collection, and expanded its digital offering. Those who engage with the Institution, joining as members, or participating in its activities and events, gain an enhanced understanding of heritage through their involvement.

The renovations have been undertaken sensitively and carefully. The building’s enhanced condition lends itself to both better and more diverse interpretations of the Institution’s collections, as well as improved access to its spaces.

To celebrate the successful completion of this project, we will be hosting a special event in June, attended by Charles Courtenay, The Earl of Devon.

 

“This is great news for the Devon and Exeter Institution and its remarkable home at the heart of our city.  The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s generous support has allowed a much broader audience to enjoy the DEI’s unique collection, securing it for generations as a jewel of Exeter’s literary heritage.’’

Said Charles Courtenay, The Earl of Devon

“We are delighted that, 212 years after our foundation, this investment has allowed us to evolve into a dynamic and forward-thinking organisation while remaining true to our heritage. Our vision was to remove barriers for potential members and visitors by enhancing accessibility in all its forms, and we are proud to have successfully delivered on that promise.”

Said Emma Dunn, Director, Devon and Exeter Institution

 

Notes to Editors

About the Devon and Exeter Institution

The Devon and Exeter Institution is a thriving independent library and educational charity in the heart of the city.  We welcome new members and visitors of all ages.  Our founders established the Institution in 1813, to promote ‘the general diffusion of Science, Literature and the Arts, and for illustrating the Natural and Civil History of the county of Devon and the History of the City of Exeter’.  This resolution remains at the centre of our strategy to this day.

The Institution occupies a Medieval building, originally owned by the Cathedral.  It was inherited by the Courtenay family in the 17th Century and used as their town house for over 150 years.   In 1814, ‘200 Gentlemen of the City’ took ownership of 7 Cathedral Close and adapted the double-courtyard layout to create two elegant Georgian rooms.  These rooms functioned as both library and a museum; museum objects were later donated to form the foundation collection of the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in 1868.

Today our two galleried libraries hold a unique historical book collection, virtually unchanged since 1813, and collections of maps, prints, drawings, fine and decorative art. The DEI is also the premier institution collecting books on Devon, particularly in the fields of history and biography. The Library and collections lie at the heart of the Institution and provide inspiration and a place for research and reading, educational activities, cultural events and lectures

The DEI has been an Educational Charity since 1989 and enjoys a close working relationship with the University of Exeter and other heritage sites across the city.  We offer meeting rooms for business hire; our beautiful libraries are also available to hire for cultural activities and business events. We are open for public tours every Wednesday afternoon from 1pm – 4pm.

The Institution, like many charities, could not do without its wonderful team of volunteers, drawn from the local community. The Institution is cherished by members for its calm and peaceful atmosphere in the heart of the city, and its ability to bring a wide range of people together.

About the National Lottery Heritage Fund

Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.

Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities. heritagefund.org.uk Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter/X, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLottery #HeritageFund

Further information

 For further information, images and interview bookings, please contact: Emma Dunn, Director

[email protected]