Funding boost for Exeter’s oldest building

Funding boost for Exeter’s oldest building thanks to National Lottery players

Funding from National Lottery players will help to safeguard Exeter’s oldest building and provide more opportunities for people to explore it’s fascinating history.

St Nicholas Priory was home to Benedictine monks for 500 years from 1087 until the Reformation. It is the oldest surviving building in the city and now open to the community to visit for free thanks to the efforts of volunteers.

The Heritage Lottery fund has awarded £113,000 to the Exeter Historic Buildings Trust, who now run the priory. The funding will be used to help support the organisation’s efforts to ensure all ages can visit the building and learn about events which happened there and former residents.

The Trustees of Exeter Historic Buildings Trust comment: “We are delighted to have this support from the Heritage Lottery Fund. St Nicholas Priory is one of Exeter’s most important buildings and this support will mean we can give more people the chance to explore it’s history.”

The funding will be used to help experts decide the future services and maintenance needed to ensure the Priory remains used and in good condition. It will also fund extra staffing to help the Exeter Historic Buildings Trust raise money in order to safeguard the future priory and train and recruit further volunteers.

In future Exeter’s popular and free Red Coat guided tours will visit the priory twice a week. The fascinating collection of artefacts held by the Devon and Exeter Medical Society will be displayed in the Priory through six exhibitions each year. Schools will be able to use the building regularly as a learning space, and there will be regular activities for families.

The funding means the popular theatre performances shown in the priory can continue and a programme of events can be developed. St Nicholas Priory is open to the public to visit for free every Sunday, with tours available to be booked at other times.

St Nicholas Priory was originally a series of buildings laid out around a cloister square, along with a cemetery, gardens and an orchard. Following it’s dissolution in 1536, the monks were pensioned off and the church, adjoining Chapter House, dormitory and cloisters were pulled down. The buildings which remained were sold off by the Crown and became private family homes to wealthy merchants.. In the 18th century a Roman Catholic church was built on the site of the medieval Chapter House. In 1855 the purpose-built Roman Catholic school of St. Nicholas was opened, facing the Refectory, with nuns teaching pupils. Both the church and school have since moved to other parts of Exeter.

Later buildings were occupied by The Exeter College of Art & Design, which the Priory open as a museum in 1913. In 1991 the Exeter Historic Buildings Trust bought the empty and deteriorating refectory Wing from the Roman Catholic diocese and now two surviving parts of the priory are open to visitors.

Stop press! – Both wings of St Nicholas priory will be fully open for Heritage Open Days – 11am – 4pm Saturday September 8th and Sunday September 9th AND Saturday September 15th and Sunday September 16th.