From Gentlemen's Club to Community Asset: The Transformation of an Institution

Emma Dunn, Director of the Devon and Exeter Institution, shares the dramatic story of rescuing a collapsing 13th-century building and transforming an exclusive gentlemen's club into an accessible heritage charity serving all of Exeter.

When Emma arrived in 2015, scaffolding held up library ceilings, buckets caught drips from failed roofs, and nets captured falling debris, all while members calmly read newspapers below. The building had been on the Heritage at Risk register for three years. Through two major projects totalling £3 million, Emma led the transformation of this nationally significant institution into a thriving cultural hub with accessible facilities, diverse programming, and partnerships across the city.

Get Involved:

• Visit: Devon and Exeter Institution at 7 The Close, Exeter
• Website https://devonandexeterinstitution.org/
• Free Wednesday tours: 1-4pm, drop-in
• Join online or in person - memberships from £1/month
• Volunteer opportunities through Exeter Heritage Partnership
• Contact for school partnerships and group bookings