The Modern Earl: Heritage, Innovation and the Future of Exeter

Recorded live at the Devon & Exeter Institution, this episode features Charlie Courtenay, the 19th Earl of Devon, as he reflects on heritage, stewardship, and the future of Exeter.

We explore:

• What it means to “inherit” a story and reshape it for the modern world.
• How the historic Earldom and the city of Exeter remain intertwined, from medieval trade to modern innovation.
• His dual life as a barrister in technology and intellectual property law and a custodian of Powderham Castle, balancing tradition and sustainability.
• Insights from his work with the Exeter Place Partnership, uniting city and rural Devon around shared environmental and economic challenges.
• Powderham’s approach to sustainability, land management, and cultural preservation as a model for intergenerational stewardship.

Resources & Links

• Powderham Castle https://www.powderham.co.uk
• Exeter Place Partnership https://placeexeter.co.uk
• House of Lords Members Profile: Earl of Devon https://members.parliament.uk/member/4744