Get inspired by Exeter Cathedral and its ancient collections in a fun and interactive way.
Take part in a series of four FREE poetry workshops inspired by Old English poems, medieval charms and fantastical carvings at Exeter Central Library. Workshops will be led by the cathedral’s ‘Riddler in Residence’, poet James Wilkes who will work with a range of local community groups with the aim of motivating them to creatively connect with their heritage as part of the project.
In a relaxed and friendly environment, the workshops shall take place over four consecutive weeks in June and July. Each workshop will last around 2 – 2.5 hours with breaks, and will involve creative exercises, group discussions and sharing of work in progress. No previous experience of writing poetry is needed – just an openness to explore and play with language!
Week 1: Thursday 29 June 14:30 – 16:30
Come and write your own healing charm or herbal recipe.
The cathedral library holds treasures of all kinds, including medieval and early modern books featuring charms, prayers, treatments and herbal remedies.
Week 2: Thursday 6 July 14:30 – 16:30
Using extracts from the Exeter Book, perhaps the oldest surviving collection of poetry in Old English, kept at Exeter Cathedral, we’ll explore how to translate the unfamiliar sounds, letters and rhythms of Old English and make our own work from this.
Week 3: Thursday 13 July 14:30 – 16:30
The cathedral is full of wild and wonderful carvings, from stone ceiling bosses and corbels to wooden misericords. What kinds of stories can you tell by putting these carvings together in unexpected ways?
Week 4: Thursday 20 July 14:30 – 16:30
This week is a chance to discuss and add to your poems so far, and then to share them with your fellow participants. With your agreement, we’ll record this sharing event and turn it into an audio track which will be made available in the cathedral for anyone to listen to.
Cost: Free, booking essential
Accessibility Statement: The Library can be accessed via Castle Street which runs parallel to Exeter Library High Street. The Library connects directly to the Rougemont Gardens.
The Library is in close proximity to Exeter Central Station (roughly 5 minutes’ walk), Exeter Bus Station (roughly 10 minutes’ walk), and many connection bus stops on the high street.
There are five Blue Badge spaces outside the main entrance and four / five at the bottom of the slope (on Musgrave Row). These are all public Blue Badge parking spaces however and not dedicated to the library.
The are numerous car parks situated within walking distance of the building, including Guildhall Centre Parking (EX4 3HJ), John Lewis Car Park (EX4 6AH) and Princesshay Parking (EX1 1EU).
The entrance to the building is wheelchair accessible. There is a circular ramp, as well as a small set of stairs. As you enter, you walk into our foyer and café area and can continue through the building to the main library floor, children’s library, and accessible toilet. The second floor houses our quiet area. The third has our Rougemont Lounge and Balcony, and Rougemont Meeting Room. The fourth floor has the public toilets.
All floor are accessible using a set of customer stairs or a public lift. The public toilets on the top floor have four cubicles, one of which is accessible (and baby changing). The Rougemont Balcony is accessible via a small step, however we have portable wheelchair ramps that can be used to allow access.
The toilet in the children’s library is accessible and has baby changing facilities.
The library furniture and bookshelves are laid out in such a way to ensure wheelchair access throughout.