Exeter’s first mosque was at 15 York Road, opened on 11th September 1977. 17 people were involved in the organising committee. For more information, look at the PowerPoint and teacher’s notes on the schools pages of this website.

Famous twentieth century novelist Jean Rhys was born Ella Gwendoline Rees Williams in Rouseau, Dominica 1894, the daughter of a Welsh doctor and a White Creole mother, whose family had been plantation owners on the island for generations. Rhys lived in the Devon village of Cheriton Fitzpaine, near Crediton, from 1960 until her death in […]

In 1980 Tiverton offered a home to two Vietnemese families seeking a safe place for their families to live and work.

 In the 1980s, Vietnamese refugees came to the wider Bideford / Barnstaple area.  

In 1981, 16 people, from several families, were offered refuge in Okehampton after fleeing the Communist takeover of Vietnam. 

Exeter’s annual Respect festival started in 1997, with the slogan ‘All different, all equal’. Originally held at the Phoenix arts centre, since 2007 it has been at Belmont Park, where it has become an essential part of the Exeter calendar. See some of local photographer Clive Chilvers’ photos of Respect festivals across the years. More information on […]

Noel Blake, born in Kingston, Jamaica, joined Exeter as a player/assistant manager in 1995, and played 147 games for the Club. He was appointed manager of the Grecians in 2000. Noel went on to manage the England Under 19 team.

The Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies building was opened by Sheikh Sultan bin Mohamed Al-Qasimi of Sharjah in 2001. It’s distinctive architectural design evokes the region and has become a unique landmark on the Exeter university campus. The IAIS Street Gallery is a dedicated exhibition space and there is a visiting speaker seminar series during […]

‘Local Black History, a beginning in Devon’ researched by Historian Lucy MacKeith was published by the Archive and Museum of Black Heritage in 2003,  the booklet is now out of print but is available to read here. There is an accompanying trail to this booklet Starting to Trace Black History in Devon.  Lucy’s in-depth research […]

Floella Benjamin, loved by generations of children for her work on Playschool, was installed as Chancellor of Exeter University in 2006 and stepped down in 2016. The Role of Chancellor is a ceremonial one, that includes presenting certificates to graduates. One graduate said “I loved my Masters graduation because of Floella, she has so much energy […]

The BBC’s Trevor McDonald lived for several years in Topsham. In an interview with the Independent in 2009, he was asked about his favourite place in the British Isles. He said: “We used to have a house in Topsham near Exeter on the River Exe. When you get there, immediately all the cares of London life seem […]

There has been a mosque in Exeter since 1976, on York Road. The first mosque was in a Victorian house at no 15. The purpose-built mosque was opened in October 2011. Read more about the history of Exeter’s mosque and the Muslim community in this paper by our volunteers Nazima Khan and Mona Abou Bakr […]

There has been a mosque in Exeter since 1976, on York Road. The first mosque was in a Victorian house at no 15.  The purpose-built Exeter Mosque and Islamic Centre was opened in October 2011.

We are very grateful to the following individuals, schools and organisations who have helped us throughout the project: Thanks to Refugee Support Devon–Exeter Cathedral–Exeter Community Centre–Devon and Exeter Institution–Police Museum–Respect Festival Ruth Gidley, Rob Mackenzie and many of their colleagues at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM) have provided wonderful help at many points, milestones being the research skills […]

International street artist Mohammed Ali aka Aerosol Arabic displayed his unique FutureCube outside Exeter Cathedral during August and September 2013. The FutureCube was initially exhibited at Exeter University, part of the Islamic Reformulations project which ran until 2015.  The Arabic word ‘Al Mustaqubal’, which means the future, wraps itself around the cube.  The cube is an interpretation of […]

14th October 2013: A marble deity of Lord Shiva finally arrived at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, a journey that took over two years, many hours of craftsmanship and a four thousand mile trip from Jaipur. Its presence was requested by members of the local Hindu community, who felt it would be helpful for staff […]

Oral history has been a large part of the Telling Our Stories project. Sharing and recording Exeter’s local histories has helped to presereve the personal stories of individuals from dicers communities that have helped to shape Exeter today. Volunteers interviewed more than 30 local people about their experience of coming to and living in Exeter. […]