News
Cooking the books
Voltaire is said to have remarked that, ‘England has a hundred religions and only one sauce’ – our heritage collection suggests otherwise. This year, we are celebrating Heritage Open Days (10-19 September 2021) with a book display in the Outer Library curated by one of our members, Tony Rhodes.
Call for Papers: “Community Culture”
The Devon & Exeter Institution invites you to respond to its annual call for papers, interacting with the theme of “Community Culture.” Proposals may consider, but are not limited to […]
The Royal Record
Our collections are full of surprises. August's Book of the Month was discovered by one of our volunteers, Tony Rhodes, while working on the heritage collection in the Outer Library.
Current covid guidelines at the DEI – from 1st March 2022
Wearing a mask is encouraged but not enforced and the current guidance for Museums, Libraries and Archives from the DDCMS is that 'We continue to suggest the use of face coverings in enclosed or crowded places, particularly where you come into contact with people you don’t normally meet'
Please do not visit the Institution if you have tested positive for Covid-19.
Weather reporting at the Devon and Exeter Institution
Rain, rain, go away, come again another day ... Are you wondering where summer is? From January 1817, one of the most important tasks of the Librarian at the Devon and Exeter Institution was taking twice-daily readings from the Institution's barometer and thermometer and recording them in a meteorological register.
Out of the woods
Though we are not quite out of the woods yet, we are delighted to welcome back our members and volunteers - and to meet new members. Our summer display in the Outer Library is a selection of poetry inspired by trees and spanning four centuries, from Robert Herrick’s ode to the willow to A. E. Housman’s celebration of the blossoming cherry – the loveliest of trees. Our display is organised in collaboration with Exeter Cathedral Library and Archives to celebrate Love Your Burial Ground Week, 5-13 June 2021.
May and June Programme 2021
Join us for events, tours and workshops as we resume our programme at the Institution.
Reopening information for members – May 2021
We look forward to reopening in step 3 of the government's road-map. Please find all the information about how we will reopen and what to expect, here.
Hidden Nature Library Lecture – April 2021
The theme of our series this year is Hidden Nature. We will explore some of the hidden aspects of Devon, our heritage building, library and Enlightenment collections in general, through the eyes of a diverse group of speakers.
This month, Paul Auchterlonie speaks on Devon and the Middle East.
The Great Exhibition – 170 years on
The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations opened in Hyde Park, London, on 1st May 1851. It was spearheaded by Prince Albert and members of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (later the Royal Society of Arts), including Sir Henry Cole. The Crystal Palace - an incredible cast iron and glass structure, measuring 1848 feet long and 454 feet wide – was constructed in just nine months. The Great Exhibition was to be a ‘wonder of the world’ – a celebration of international industrial design and technology with exhibits from all corners of the earth. But, principally, it was to be a grandstand for Britain and for British manufacturing.
