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!

Exeter in the 1920s — Sunshine and Shadows

 
with Dr Julia Neville on Thursday, 9 October 2025
at 7pm at The Mint Methodist Church Centre

Exeter in the 1920s was a place of huge contrasts, with both 'Sunshine' and 'Shadows'. Shadows of unemployment, poverty and war-time trauma clouded the decade, but many people were able to enjoy new houses and new opportunities to go out and enjoy themselves. The Festival of Devon in the 1920s is showcasing these different aspects in a series of events in Exeter through early October which includes this evening's historical entertainment at The Mint Methodist Centre.

The main event of the evening will be a dramatic presentation, The Best of Times, the Worst of Times, based on the lives of real Exeter people from the West Quarter. The cast of characters who will be recounting their personal stories include amongst others a landlady, a badger expert, an ice-cream manufacturer and a victim of childhood polio. To get us in a 1920s mood, the evening begins with a swing. In a film by John Tomkinson for the Festival of Devon in the 1920s, the South West Lindy Hoppers are shown dancing the (rather shocking) 1920s' dance imported from the United States, the Charleston, in Exeter's Historic Guildhall.

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.

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.