Exeter Custom House - ECQT

🏛️ Discover Exeter’s Archaeological Past – for FREE! 🔎

Join the Devon Archaeological Society at Exeter Custom House on Sunday 13 September, as part of Heritage Open Days, for a fascinating series of free guided walks exploring the archaeology and history of Exeter’s Quay and city walls.

🚶 Guided walks: 10.30am–2.30pm
📍 Starting from Exeter Custom House, Exeter Quay
🎟️ Free to attend

Led by experienced guides, the 45-minute walks will explore the west of the City Wall, Exbridges, the mediaeval Exe Bridge, Exeter Quay and Custom House, with plenty of fascinating stories and insights into archaeological work carried out in the area.

You’ll also have the chance to chat to archaeologists and society trustees, ask questions and browse publications about Devon’s archaeology.

Walks depart every half hour from 10.30am until 2.30pm. Please note that some walking will be on uneven surfaces.

Come along and discover a different side of Exeter’s fascinating past! 🏛️⚓

https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/devon-archaeological-society-at-the-custom-house-on-the-quay-in-exeter.html

🎷☀️ Don't miss the last Jazz on the Quay today! ☀️🎶

Where has the summer gone? It's the final Jazz on the Quay of the season, but it promises to be a fantastic Bank Holiday special with The Riviera Ramblers.

Renowned for their lively blend of 1930s & '40s swing, New Orleans hot jazz and the infectious rhythms of Parisian gypsy swing, they're guaranteed to get your toes tapping! 🎺🎻💃

📍 Transit Shed, Exeter Quay
🕧 Today (Sunday 30 August) | 12.30pm–3.30pm
🎟️ Free admission

Jazz on the Quay is presented by Exeter Canal & Quay Trust in partnership with Exeter City Council

🏙️ How can we create better connections between Exeter’s City and Quayside?

Join us at the Custom House for a series of linked events exploring the challenges, opportunities and ideas that could help bring the city and quayside closer together.

📅 Saturday 26 September | 9.30am–4pm
Workshop 1: Identify problems, challenges and opportunities.

🎤 Friday 9 October | 6–9pm
Lecture & Reception: Featuring keynote speaker Ben Derbyshire PPRIBA, FRSA, followed by a reception.

📅 Saturday 10 October | 9.30am–4pm
Workshop 2: Explore ideas and share them with the city.

You can join one, two or all three events, with a pay-what-you-can approach.

Expect expert speakers, guided fact-finding, group discussions and practical support to develop and present your ideas through different media and an exhibition.

Together, we’ll explore themes including visibility, lost heritage, cultural perceptions, personal safety, transport, wayfinding, access, topography and the management of public space.

🌟 Speakers and facilitators include:
Ben Derbyshire PPRIBA, FRSA
Todd Gray MBE
Dr Sarah Spencer
Cllr James Banyard
Paul Jenkins FRSA
Qiao Feng RIBA FRSA

🔎 Find out more and book your place:
https://exetercustomhouse.co.uk/event/quay-to-the-city/

🎷☀️ The last Jazz on the Quay this Sunday! ☀️🎶

Where has the summer gone? It's the final Jazz on the Quay of the season, but it promises to be a fantastic Bank Holiday special with The Riviera Ramblers.

Renowned for their lively blend of 1930s & '40s swing, New Orleans hot jazz and the infectious rhythms of Parisian gypsy swing, they're guaranteed to get your toes tapping! 🎺🎻💃

📍 Transit Shed, Exeter Quay
🕧 Sunday (30 August) | 12.30pm–3.30pm
🎟️ Free admission

Jazz on the Quay is presented by Exeter Canal & Quay Trust in partnership with Exeter City Council

🎨✨ Creative fun for the whole family! ✨🎨

We recently hosted some free family art drop-in sessions, and we thought we’d share some of the lovely creations!

Our creative team member Hannah led the sessions, introducing children to the fascinating history of the local wool and dyeing trade in a fun and accessible way, including some of the rather smelly ingredients once used in the dyeing process! 🐑🌿

The children then got creative, making colourful butterflies from wool and dyeing squares of silk using madder root. 🦋❤️

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and got creative!

Keep an eye out for more family-friendly creative sessions coming up in the future. 👀🎨

⚓ A new chapter for Exeter’s maritime heritage

With restoration of the historic sailing smack Britannia now secured thanks to National Lottery Heritage Fund support, the Britannia Sailing Trust is turning its attention to another important piece of Exeter’s maritime history.

The Britannia Sailing Trust has taken on the restoration of Julie, a 20ft wooden salmon boat built in the early 1900s that once worked the River Exe. With traditional boatbuilding skills increasingly rare, Julie will provide an important hands-on training opportunity for the next generation of boatbuilders.

The restoration brings together the Britannia Sailing Trust, Exeter Canal & Quay Trust and Co Create, working to preserve both a historic boat and the skills needed to restore it.

Read the full story in Fishing News to find out more about Julie, Britannia and the future of traditional boatbuilding on the Exe. ⚓🛶

👉 Read the full article: https://britanniasailingtrust.org/article-from-fishing-news-new-project-for-britannia-team/

🎄 We hate to mention the “C” word while we’re still in August… but we’ve just opened applications for traders for our Christmas Gift Fair! 🎁

Taking place at Exeter Custom House and outside under the Transit Shed on Saturday 21 November, 10am–4pm, it’s the perfect opportunity to discover something a little different this Christmas.

With the Quayside Farmers’ Market also taking place on the Piazza that morning, we’ll be focusing on quality Christmas gifts, unique finds and shopping you won’t see on the high street.

Please note, we won’t be accepting food traders for this event.

👉 Find out more and apply here: https://exetercustomhouse.co.uk/event/trader-call-out-christmas-gift-fair/

Now, back to enjoying the last of summer… and pretend we never mentioned Christmas. 😎☀️🎄

Exeter Quayside Farmers' Market Exeter Street Food

🦋🧶 Don’t forget, you can still join us for some family crafting fun! 🌿

Looking for something creative to do with the family? Come along and discover traditional wool and textile crafts with this fun, hands-on Family Craft session.

Just us this afternoon or tomorrow afternoon.

📅 25 & 26 August
⏰ 2pm–4pm
🎟️ Free | Drop in | No booking required

Children can:

🦋 Make a butterfly or moth decoration using soft sheep’s fleece
🧶 Have a go at traditional weaving
🌿 Discover how wool was dyed in the 17th century using natural plants

It’s a lovely opportunity to get creative together while discovering some fascinating traditional crafts and heritage skills.

Free entry. Just drop in between 2pm and 4pm!

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Children must be accompanied by an adult.

📍 Quay to the City

How can we better connect Exeter's historic Quayside with the city centre? Join us for a series of engaging workshops and events exploring the past, present and future of this important part of Exeter.

Hear from expert keynote speakers, discover the area's rich history, take part in guided activities and discussions, and help shape ideas for the future. Participants will also contribute to a public exhibition, ensuring local voices are at the heart of the conversation.

From accessibility and wayfinding to transport, heritage, public spaces and safety, we'll be exploring the opportunities and challenges that influence how people experience the route between the Quay and the city.

💡 Together, let's challenge assumptions, explore innovative ideas and imagine what's possible.

🔗 Find out more and book your place:
https://exetercustomhouse.co.uk/event/quay-to-the-city/