Cathedral Library

The Library of the Dean and Chapter of Exeter Cathedral was founded in the 11th century with books from Leofric, first Bishop of Exeter. It has gone through various changes in location, contents, and status over the centuries, and from 1954 to 2001 was administered by the University of Exeter.

The Dean & Chapter now administer the library directly, the day-to-day running being in the hands of the Cathedral Librarian, Assistant Librarian, and a team of volunteers, all part-time.

Staff  

Cathedral Librarian: Peter Thomas, MA (Oxford), DipLib (Wales)
Assistant Librarian: Michael Howarth, MA (Oxford & Bristol), DipLib (Wales), DipFr (Rennes)

Location

The library is situated to the south-east of the cathedral in the West Wing of the Bishop's Palace. Access is via the cathedral car park off Palace Gate.

Opening Hours

Normal opening hours for members of the public, depending on staff availability, are 2.30-4.30 p.m., Monday to Friday (last entry at 4pm).  The library is closed during some holiday periods. Manuscripts and books printed before 1901 may be consulted only by appointment; please E-mail your requirements well in advance as the collections are held on three different sites and the staff are part-time. 

Holdings

The library's greatest treasures are the 10th-century Exeter Book and the Exon Domesday of 1086. There is an important collection of medical books and a wide range of other books, including historic theology and material relating to the cathedral and the Church of England in Devon. Notable among the printed books is a Second Folio of Shakespeare.

Catalogues and Finding-Tools  

Pre-1991 accessions are recorded in a card catalogue and, together with later accessions, in an on-site computer catalogue using the Heritage system. Work is in progress on a web-based catalogue, but meanwhile pre-2001 accessions are included in the online catalogue of Exeter University Library. The medical and scientific collections are also catalogued in Medicine and Science at Exeter Cathedral Library: a short-title catalogue of printed books, 1483-1900, with a list of 10th- to 19th-century manuscripts, compiled by Peter W Thomas (University of Exeter Press, 2003). Other special categories of material (medieval manuscripts, early printed books, etc.) are recorded in the appropriate standard printed and online reference works.

Guide 

For a full account of the library see our booklet, The Library and Archives of Exeter Cathedral, by L J Lloyd and Audrey Erskine, 3rd edn (Exeter, 2004), ISBN 0-9548695-0-8, £2.75 (in the library or the Cathedral shop) or £4 (inc. post & packing).

Exhibitions 

The Exeter Book and Exon Domesday are on permanent display. The current temporary exhibition is 'Books for the New World', to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Jamestown Settlement.

Contact 

Exeter Cathedral Library, West Wing, The Palace, Palace Gate, Exeter, EX1 1HX
Telephone 01392 272894
Fax 01392 285986
E-mail library@exeter-cathedral.org.uk

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