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Uncover Exeter's literary heritage and culture with the Exeter Literary Map. The map was designed by a local illustrator, to showcase the city’s famous literary figures, picturesque reading spots, independent bookshops, and literary landmarks.
The map has been produced by the charity Exeter City of Literature, made possible by Arts Council England, and printed copies can be found in visitor centres, libraries, bookshops, and hotels throughout Devon.
View a digital version of the map below - click on each of the numbers to discover the literary links at each location.
Landmarks8. Exeter College, Hele Road, Exeter EX4 4JS
Home to the Introduction to Bibliotherapy Skills courses, provided by the Exeter City of Literature charity
11. Exeter Phoenix - Gandy St, Exeter EX4 3LS
Exeter’s creative hub, the Phoenix is the home of creativity and culture in the city centre. Comedy, music, theatre, art, and everything in between!
This 6.5 metre high sculpture was created by Michael Fairfax in 2005. It is made up of eight panels, each featuring an Old English riddle, originally recorded in the Exeter Book around 950CE
17. Quay Words (Custom House) - 46 The Quay, Exeter EX2 4AN
A live literature programme from Literature Works based at Exeter’s historic Custom House, bringing writers to Exeter for themed literary seasons.
24. The Turk’s Head Inn - 202 High St, Exeter EX4 3EB
The Turk's Head was Charles Dickens’ favourite Exeter watering hole. He used to sit in what is now Dickens’ Corner, from where he observed a patron who would become Fat Boy in The Pickwick Papers.
14. Libraries Unlimited - St Thomas Library
Responsible for 54 libraries and 4 mobile libraries across Devon & Torbay. The Libraries Unlimited charity creates imaginative projects, provides support to local entrepreneurs, and Exeter Library is the 18th most visited library in Great Britain.
9. Exeter Library - Castle St, Exeter EX4 3PQ
A fixture of the city centre since 1965, since being refurbished in 2014 Exeter Library has been a thriving community hub, with over 1km of shelves & hidden stacks with over 150,000 books. It has an exciting and varied programme of events and activities that celebrate the local community.
27. University of Exeter Library (Special Collections) - Old Library, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter EX4 4SB
The University of Exeter Library is home to the richest collection of 20th Century literary archives by writers linked to the South West, including Daphne du Maurier, Charles Causley, and Agatha Christie.
26. University of Exeter - Stocker Rd, Exeter EX4 4PY
The University of Exeter has historical ties to RAMM & Exeter Library, author alumni include Luke Kennard, JK Rowling, Philip Hensher, Santa Montefiore, and Carol Shields.
7. Exeter Cathedral Library & The Exeter Book - 1 The Cloisters, Exeter EX1 1HS
Exeter Cathedral Library is the home of the 10th century Exeter Book, a collection of poems (including riddles) in Old English which was owned by Leofric, the first Bishop of Exeter. It is the largest surviving Anglo-Saxon poetry anthology and a UNESCO artefact of global cultural significance. It is kept in controlled conditions but is put on display for visitors at special sessions throughout the year - visit the website for dates.
The Cathedral Library is also home to the Exon Domesday, Shakespeare’s Second Folio, and many medieval manuscripts.
23. The Devon & Exeter Institution - 7 Cathedral Cl, Exeter EX1 1EZ
The Devon & Exeter Institution in Cathedral Close is a thriving independent historical library and educational charity established in 1813. It is housed in a beautiful medieval building, originally owned by the Cathedral, and was home to the first female librarian at an independent library in 1849!
The two galleried libraries hold a unique historical book collection, virtually unchanged, and collections of maps, prints, drawings and their fine and decorative art. Join a free public tour every Wednesday afternoon between 1 - 4pm, no need to book.
19. Royal Albert Memorial Museum - Queen St, Exeter EX4 3RX
The RAMM opened in 1868 with a free library & reading room. This iconic Exeter building is home to fascinating collections and many cultural activities.
2. Barnfield Theatre - Barnfield Rd, Exeter EX1 1SN
Built as the Barnfield Hall at the end of the 19th Century by the Exeter Literary Society, the Barnfield Theatre is now a theatre run by the Northcott as a vibrant creative and community hub.
10. Exeter Northcott Theatre - Stocker Rd, Exeter EX4 4QB
Since its first production of The Merchant of Venice in 1967, the Exeter Northcott has been Exeter’s premier theatre venue, producing its own plays as well as hosting touring productions.
3. Cygnet Theatre - Friars' Gate, Exeter EX2 4AZ
The Cygnet is a unique training theatre in the heart of the city, training young actors and producing a varied programme of original works in an intimate venue.
25. Theatre Alibi - Emmanuel Hall, Emmanuel Rd, Exeter EX4 1EJ
Contemporary storytellers based in St Thomas who have given countless Devon families their first taste of theatre since 1982. Theatre Alibi creates work for all ages, aspiring to be inventive, joyful, moving, vivid, intricate and ambitious. The company integrates a wide variety of art forms into its work and recent productions have featured animation, film, puppetry, photography and music both live and recorded.
Bookshops6. Book-Cycle, 7 West Street, Exeter, EX1 1BB
Book-Cycle is a UK based volunteer run charity that seeks to empower children worldwide through the provision of free books and educational resources. Exeter was their first branch, and is housed in a beautiful historic building on West Street.
Choose what to pay for up to 3 items per day - you do not have to bring them back, they are yours to keep! Proceeds are used to send educational books to schools and orphanages around the world and create tree planting projects with primary school children in the UK.
7. Bookbag, 7-10 McCoys Arcade, Fore St, Exeter EX4 3AN
Situated in McCoys Arcade in Exeter’s indie West Quarter, Bookbag is an independent bookshop stocking a select range of books for all ages, including fiction and non-fiction, books and stories with a local-global feel.
18. Final Frontier, 53 South Street, Exeter EX1 1EE
Final Frontier is a comic and memorabilia store with friendly and knowledgeable staff!
26. Hospiscare Books, 84 South Street, Exeter EX1 1EQ
Hospiscare is an independent local charity, supporting people in Devon living with life-limiting illnesses for over 40 years. Support them through the purchase of a book at their shop on South Street.
28. Joel Segal Books, St Leonards, Exeter
Exeter-based book dealer who has been buying and selling antiquarian, out-of-print and second-hand books for the last 40 years. A quirky, thought-provoking slection of Joel Segal Books are available in the following cafes:
The Dinosaur Café, 5 New North Road, Exeter
Café at 36, Cowick Street, St Thomas, Exeter
The Café, 76 Fore Street, Topsham, Exeter
32. Oxfam Books & Music, 97-98 South Street, Exeter EX1 1EN
The Oxfam Books & Music shop in Exeter is a treasure trove of books, music and cards, with something for everyone, from the most serious bibliophile to the more casual customer.
34. Penguin Books Vending Machine, Exeter St David's Station, Bonhay Road, Exeter EX4 4NT
In 1934, Allen Lane decided to start Penguin Books after he couldn’t find anything to read at Exeter St David's train station. Almost 90 years later, you can now pick up a book for your travels from the Penguin Books vending machine at that same historic location!
38. Stevens Books / The Mint Press, Taddyforde House South, Taddyforde Estate, New North Road, Exeter EX4 4AT
Specialising in innovative archeological and historical non-fiction books about Devon and Cornwall.
46. The Topsham Bookshop, 27 Fore Street, Topsham EX3 0HD
Housed on three floors of a beautiful 17th century building in Topsham, including second hand, vintage and antiquarian books, this is a reader's paradise!
Literary Figures4. Charles Dickens - 143b Fore Street
Dickens stayed with friend & Western Times editor Thomas Latimer on Fore Street, covering Exeter City Council elections as a journalist. He rented a cottage for his parents in Alphington and drank at the Turk’s Head Inn on the High St.
New Grub Street author lived in Prospect Park and frequented RAMM, Barnfield Hall, and the Devon & Exeter Institution. Gissing called Brampford Speke the most beautiful village he ever encountered.
Romantic novelist of 24 books and a formidable suffrage activist and lecturer.
21. Sabine Baring-Gould - 16 Southernhay East, Exeter
Born in St Sidwell’s, he was a writer, scholar, priest, and folk-tale collector. His Book of Were-wolves & Margery of Quether inspired Bram Stoker, whose brother is buried in Exeter Higher Cemetery.
26. Sir Allen Lane - Exeter St Davids
Founder of Penguin Books, he was inspired to create the paperback imprint while waiting at St Davids train station after visiting Agatha Christie.
Science communicator, author of Forget Me Not, and Exeter City of Literature trustee.
Author of Stepping Up, a Sunday Times bestseller and Richard & Judy Book Club pick.
1. Anthony Trollope - St Sidwell’s
He Knew He Was Right is set in undisguised Exeter and Budleigh Salterton gets a mention.
Mary was a decorated service pigeon who lived on West Street. She inspired a book and a play, Mary the Pigeon Who Never Gave Up, produced by Quirk Theatre.
Four of his books include Exonbury, Hardy’s version of Exeter.
3. Bram Stoker - Cathedral Close, Exeter
Dracula’s Jonathan Harker departs for Transylvania from an office on Cathedral Close, a nod to Sabine Baring-Gould (see: Literary Figures).
Former St Sidwells teacher & author of the Carnegie Medal winning Cricklepit School stories. The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler is based in the school.
Reading Spots in Exeter3. Belmont Sensory Garden - Belmont Park, EX4 6SS. Suggested by @cleodontchaknow
5. Blue Jay Way - Heavitree, EX1 2RH. Suggested by @orlandomurrin
7. Cricklepit Mill - Devon Wildlife Trust, EX2 4AB. Suggested by @annaorchard
11. Exeter Quay, EX2 4AN. Suggested by @lloyddavidjohn
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Exeter became the only UK destination in 2019 to be awarded UNESCO City of Literature status, recognised for its 1,000 year unbroken history of making books and popularising reading since the early 13th century.
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