Heritage preserved

The Library at Exeter College was built by a giant of the Gothic Revival – Gilbert Scott – and has since been the home of giants in literature, politics, theatre, economics, philosophy, and more. The aim of the restoration is to restore the Library to its former glory, while sensitively upgrading its facilities to meet the needs of current students.

Respecting the architectural integrity and ambience of the Library is essential because current students have strongly expressed just how important these qualities are to them. The exterior stonework will be cleaned and the grotesques will be re-carved where needed. Inside the Library, paint will be removed from stonework and stripped from the ceiling of the ground floor to reveal the original timber beams. The 60 original bookcases, which form an integral part of Gilbert Scott’s Victorian Gothic design, will be removed and restored offsite by the University’s conservation department before being returned to the Library. The restoration plans also incorporate builtin display cases to exhibit some of the College’s most treasured books and objects, which will provide current and future students with the opportunity to engage with them easily within their own working environment.