Devon and Exeter Institution, Historical subscription library in Cathedral Close, Exeter, England
The Devon and Exeter Institution is a subscription library located in Cathedral Close with a collection spanning from the 16th century to today. The building features two Georgian library rooms with high ceilings and wooden shelves housing maps, prints, periodicals, and manuscripts accumulated over centuries.
The institution was founded in 1813 as both a library and museum for local knowledge and regional history. Over time it became a center for preserving natural and civil records from Devon and Exeter.
The library holds thousands of maps, prints, periodicals, and manuscripts from the 16th century onward, showing how local scholars and citizens engaged with their region's knowledge and past. These collections reveal the intellectual curiosity that defined the community over centuries.
The library is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Saturday until 4 PM, with guided tours available on Wednesday afternoons. Check ahead to understand which collections and rooms suit your interests, as some materials require advance notice to view.
In 1849, Eliza Squance became librarian after her father John, making her one of the first women to lead a library in England at that time. Her appointment was remarkable for the era and marked an early step toward women holding professional leadership roles.
Location: Exeter
Inception: 1813
Made from material: Heavitree stone
Address: Devon and Exeter Institution, 7 Cathedral Close, Exeter, EX1 1EZ
Website: https://devonandexeterinstitution.org
GPS coordinates: 50.72310,-3.52930
Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:26
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Exeter Cathedral astronomical clock
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Cathedral Close, Exeter
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St Martin's Church
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Remains Of St Catherine's Chapel
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The Ship Inn
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Statue of Bishop Hooker
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Bomb damaged remains of St Catherine's Almshouses and chapel and adjacent canon's house, 140m north of the Cathedral
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Exeter Cathedral Library
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Mol's Coffee House
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5, Cathedral Close
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2, Cathedral Close
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10, Cathedral Close
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8,9 And 9a, Cathedral Close
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The Law Library
18 m
Remains Of St Catherine's Almshouses
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Notaries' House
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3, Cathedral Close
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1 and 2, Catherine Street
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Wall of No 15
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15 And 15a, Cathedral Close
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16, Cathedral Yard
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6, Cathedral Close
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12 And 13, Cathedral Close
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11, Cathedral Close
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Catherine Street
72 mVisited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
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