"Quickies" 12 - The Devon & Exeter Institution

This is a bit of a personal milestone as it is my 700th post. It all started in lockdown, so don't blame me. The blog has travelled through different phases of my life so it has changed over time. "Quickies" for example is a recent development of shorter more concise posts where there are fewer photos on a subject and where I have less narrative too. This enables me to infill the blog with occasional "quickie" posts when I am working on far more involved and labour intensive posts, which could otherwise see a large gap in published activity.

This is one that I have been looking forward to making ever since I first discovered this institution existed a few months back.

The Devon and Exeter Institution is a subscription library in the City of Exeter, in Devon, United Kingdom, founded in 1813 for "The general diffusion of science, literature and the arts". It is situated at 7, Cathedral Close, Exeter, in a building facing the north side of Exeter Cathedral which was formerly the Exeter townhouse of the Courtenay family of Powderham Castle. Wikipedia

The existing front was originally a gatehouse and the stone is Heavitree. The building was altered in 1814 just after it was sold by the Courtneys to the Institution. The upper band of timber with sundial is considered comparatively modern.

Membership is by annual subscription, although current students and staff of Exeter University may use it free of charge.

The library's collection consists of approximately 40,000 printed books in addition to prints, documents, drawings, art and a small number of artefacts.

The idea for an institution combining a library, reading room, county museum and venue for public lectures was conceived by William Elford Leach, a young naturalist from Plymouth. Leach approached the Mayor of Exeter with his proposal in June 1812, and fundraising began shortly after.

The collection also includes newspapers and periodicals. On these shelves below, are copies of Woolmer's Exeter Gazette, and the Western Times. One issue of the Western Times of 1867 shown centre, contains this advertisement.

The Institution's aims were agreed in a meeting on 12 August 1813. Membership required the purchase of a £25 share and an annual subscription of £1, limiting its initial membership to affluent, educated gentlemen.

The building in which the Institution is housed at 7, Cathedral Close, was purchased from the Dean and Chapter of Exeter Cathedral and was formerly the Exeter townhouse of the Civil War Roundhead General Sir William Waller (c.1597–1668) of Forde, Wolborough, Devon. Following the death of his son, his eventual heiress was his daughter Margaret Waller (d.1694), who married Sir William Courtenay, 1st Baronet (1628–1702), of Powderham, Devon, to which family she brought the Waller estates including the Exeter townhouse. Her descendants became Viscounts Courtenay and Earls of Devon.

This bust depicts Samuel Barnes, surgeon, the Secretary of the institution from its founding until 1858.

The two main libraries with top lights and galleries were built in 1814, covering an open courtyard.

The building is listed Grade 2* by Historic England along with another more than fifty buildings in and around Cathedral Green.

The back of the building is 16th century or even earlier. In the back room of 7 Cathedral Close is this late C16 plaster ceiling, frieze and carved chimney-piece.

The heraldic overmantel is dated c.1750.

The Courtney Arms were added in 1662.