The Modern Earl: Heritage, Innovation and the Future of Exeter
Exeter Stories by Paul Batterham
Episode notes
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.