Library & Archives In Focus: Christmas in the Corners
Library & Archives In Focus: Christmas in the Corners Thursday 7 December 2023, drop in between 11am and 1pm Our final In Focus of the year is a celebration of Christmas. From the 8th century, enlarged initials, decorated or illuminated, were used by scribes and artists to indicate the beginning of a new […]
Library & Archives In Focus: Exploring the Cathedral Archives
Library & Archives In Focus: Exploring the Cathedral Archives Tuesday 14 November, drop in from 11am until 1pm Exeter Cathedral Archives is home to ten centuries of records of the Cathedral’s history: the building, the people, and the stories that connect them. This month’s In Focus is part of the national Explore Your Archive campaign, […]
Missing Pieces: Recycling the Libraries of the Past
Annual Library Lecture Missing Pieces: Recycling the Libraries of the Past Thursday 23 November at 7pm Fragments of medieval manuscripts are often found between the covers of early printed books and codices. For centuries, bookbinders used old pieces of parchment to strengthen and protect new books. Today, these precious pieces may be all that remain […]
Library & Archives In Focus: Singing in Secret
Library & Archives In Focus: Singing in Secret Thursday 19 October, drop in between 11am and 1pm Our next In Focus marks the 400th anniversary of the death of the celebrated English Renaissance composer, William Byrd (d. 1623). During his public life as organist at Lincoln Cathedral and then as a Gentleman of the Chapel […]
Heritage Open Day – Books Unwrapped
Heritage Open Day – Books Unwrapped As part of Heritage Open Days 2023, we have two FREE Books Unwrapped Workshops at Exeter Cathedral. The free workshops will be taking place on: Saturday 9 September at 11am Monday 11 September at 2pm Books Unwrapped is a behind the scenes look at Exeter Cathedral’s Library & Archives. […]
In Focus: Saints’ Holy Relics in Medieval Exeter
In Focus: Saints’ Holy Relics in Medieval Exeter Thursday 27 July 1pm – 3pm The beard of St Peter, the arm of St Piran, and the shirt of St Thomas Becket are just three of the hundreds of holy relics that were once at the Cathedral. Starting with a gift from the Saxon king Athelstan, […]
In Focus: Exeter Book Family Event
Tuesday 8 August 10am-1pm Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to see the Exeter Book of Anglo-Saxon poetry – the oldest book of English literature in the world. The collection of poetry, including epic poems and nearly 100 riddles, was given to the Cathedral by its first bishop, Leofric, in 1072 and has been here ever […]
Library and Archives In Focus: Picturing Plants
Library and Archives In Focus: Picturing Plants Monday 12 June 1pm – 3pm Illustration is central to the study of botany: a drawing can visualise the precise appearance of a plant and convey detailed information about its structure and form. The Cathedral Library contains magnificent works of botanical illustration through history, including John Gerard’s general […]
In the Library With The Exeter Book
In the Library with The Exeter Book Monday 15 May 2023 at 1pm-2:30pm in the Exeter Cathedral Library and Archives This is an exciting and unique opportunity to experience the oldest book of English literature in existence, The Exeter Book. Written around 970AD, the Exeter Book is the earliest of only four surviving books of […]
Library & Archives In Focus: The Privilege of Prayer
Library & Archives In Focus: The Privilege of Prayer Wednesday 17 May 2023, 1pm-3pm in the Nave. Discover early books of prayers and devotions in the Exeter Cathedral Library. Private devotional prayer books, including a beautiful medieval Book of Hours, will be presented alongside important works of public worship, including a copy of the 1552 Book […]