Heritage Open Days - Red Coat Guided Tours

About

Exeter's Red Coat Guides will be running special themed tours during Heritage Open Days, from Friday 8th - Sunday 17th September.

St Sidwells – Sidwell Street Heritage Walk

Friday 8 September, 11.15am ​

St Sidwells, the overlooked quarter of Exeter. St Sidwells has been an integral part of the origins and subsequent development of Exeter since Roman times, having its own identity and having to be rebuilt on two occasions following devastating wartime attacks. Find out more on this special heritage tour.

Tour starts at St. Sidwell Community Centre.

Exeter Blitz

Saturday 9 September, 1.45pm
Sunday 10 September, 11.15am
Tuesday 12 September, 11.15am
Saturday 16 September, 11.15am

Discover how Exeter was affected by the air raids of 4 May 1942 and how this event shaped the city we see today

Tour starts at the Devon War Memorial on Cathedral Green.

Royalty in Exeter

Saturday 9 September, 11:15am
Monday 11 September, 1:45pm
Friday 15 September, 11:15am

A new Red Coat Guided  tour that highlights visits to the city by Royalty, from Alfred the Great in the 9th century to Queen Elizabeth II, and they weren't all gracious visits!

Why did King Edward stay in Exeter for the Christmas of 1285.

Tour starts at the Devon War Memorial on Cathedral Green.

Exeter Herstories - Walking with Women through Time

Monday 11 September, 11.15am

A new Red Coat tour exploring the achievements of women in Exeter that have often been overlooked.

This walk about women through time uses landmarks round the city centre to tell some often hidden stories about women connected with Exeter, highlighting their contributions and illuminates the context of their lives and the many diverse challenges they faced.

Tour starts at the Devon War Memorial on Cathedral Green.

Writers Around Exeter

Wednesday 13 September, 11:15am

Writers Around Exeter, a new Red Coat 90 minute special tour, celebrates Exeter’s status as a UNESCO City of Literature. We shall use city centre sites to explore how Exeter’s history has encouraged and sustained literary development.  For nearly 2000 years the city and surrounds have inspired reading and writing. From popular children’s authors to well known writers of recent centuries, who have been the writers who have stayed or visited? How have they described and illuminated Exeter’s heritage?  How Exeter’s institutions have contributed and continue to do so.

This is a first trial outing for this tour and there will be opportunity to shape its future.

Tour starts at the Devon War Memorial on Cathedral Green.

Guided walk of the historic port of Topsham

 Thursday 14 September, 2pm

 A90 minute walk looking around the historic port of Topsham. A guided walk looking at the buildings of Topsham and discussing its history since Roman times.

The walk ends at the Museum, which will be open and also provides cream teas!

Tour starts at the Holman Way car park.

Religious Houses of Exeter

Sunday 17 September, 11.15am

Exeter has its origins in a 1st century Roman city. In the 7th century a Christian Minster was founded within the elaborately walled city of Exeter. In the 11th century the Minster became our first Cathedral. On this special Red Coat Tour you will start at the West front of the Cathedral, learn about Exeter as a religious city. Visit some of the medieval churches and hear about the history of a variety of religious buildings including Churches, Alms Houses, Synagogue and Priory.

Tour starts at the Devon War Memorial on Cathedral Green.

All tours can be booked online from 1st September 2023 at: https://www.exetercornexchange.co.uk/book-tickets/exeters-red-coat-guided-tours/.