Exeter Local History Society

Exeter Local History Society members are hooked on history. If you share our fascination, why not join us? We have between 6 and 12 lecture meetings a year (details below), plus we occasionally have long-distance outings, and we cover an incredibly diverse range of subjects from Roman remains to post-WW2 redevelopment.

Our regular monthly meetings at Leonardo Hotel Exeter are usually held on the second Thursday of a month. Full details of future walks and talks are given below.

The charge for each meeting is normally £5 (free to members). In 2026, the annual membership fee will be £15 (£20 for joint membership). If you sample a meeting and decide to join, the £5 cost will be deducted from your first annual fee. Walks and visits normally cost £5 p.p. for members and visitors alike.

We also produce six newsletters a year — how about we email you the most recent as a free taster? To request a copy just email us at:

And do check out this website and see for yourself the great selection of subjects with which we entertain our members. Just click on "Past Events" to explore our programme! Click on "How To Join Us" for an application form. Please fill out this form if you wish to stay updated on our events and receive newsletters.

We hope we will see you soon at one of our many events!

An excerpt from Sir Denis Pereira Gray's memoir
"Just a GP — Diaries from a Career in Medicine"

 
with Sir Denis Pereira Gray on Thursday, 13 November 2025
at 7pm at Leonardo Hotel Exeter [Jurys Inn Exeter Hotel]

Denis Pereira Gray was born in Exeter, the son, nephew, grandson, and father of GPs. He worked as a GP himself here for 38 years. He became the first Professor of General Practice in the University of Exeter and was then elected President of the Royal College of General Practitioners, and Chairman of the Academy of all the Medical Royal Colleges. He describes how medical research has made general practice an independent discipline and what this means for patients, especially in seeking to preserve continuity of care.

This illustrated talk, by a member of the Exeter Local History Society, promises to be a fascinating account of an unusual professional life, including his encounters with Mrs. Thatcher, a university Dean, and references to Kenneth Clarke when he was Secretary of State for Health.

Tickets for this event can be secured by following the link below. The event registration is free for the members of the Society; there is a very small (£5) fee for non-members.

“Dating Old Photographs 1840-1920”

 
by Sally Macdougall on Wednesday, 10 December 2025
at 7pm at Leonardo Hotel Exeter [Jurys Inn Exeter Hotel]

Many of you may have inherited an “archive” of family photographs, some of which are unnamed.

Using your skills as an historian, a bit of effort and some luck, you can put a time period to the photo and hopefully a name to a face. Knowing when and where a photo was taken, together with the details of the image itself, you can guess who it could be and sometimes confirm who it is NOT!

There are many clues which, when all taken together, can give you a fairly accurate result. The physical evidence: the photographic process and format, the image, composition, studio settings and style, fashion and costume, and the reverse of the photograph.

A “Dating Worksheet” will be provided to assist your research, with recommendations on home conservation and storage, and a book and website reference list.

Tickets for this event can be secured by following the link below. The event registration is free for members of the Society; there is a very small (£5) fee for non-members.

Exeter’s Guildhall and its Mace Sergeants from inception to the present day

 
with Jerry Glazier on Thursday, 8 January 2026
at 7pm at Leonardo Hotel Exeter [Jurys Inn Exeter Hotel]

There has been a Guildhall in Exeter since at least 1160, with the current building dating from 1330. The building has played a significant, multifunctional role in the city's development since medieval times. Undergoing a number of significant building upgrades, the Guildhall was able to better meet the enhanced demands placed upon it.

Mace Sergeants were appointed by the City Chamber, for the first time, in 1263, expressly to look after the Mayor and Courts in the city.

Jerry Glazier, a serving Mace Sergeant, will talk about the Guildhall and the role of the Mace Sergeants, from their inception to the present day.

Tickets for this event can be secured by following the link below. The event registration is free for the members of the Society; there is a very small (£5) fee for non-members.