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.
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