What can a graveyard tell us about Georgian Exeter?

A patch of land smaller than two tennis courts, located just outside Exeter’s city walls, became a burial ground for protestant dissenters for just over 100 years. Around 2,000 people were buried there before it closed in 1854.

Dr. Ian Varndell will tell us about the origins of the site and the non-conformist congregations who paid for it; he will describe how and, more importantly, why it has been conserved.

A small group has been researching the lives of Exeter’s dissenting families, and Ian will finish with stories of three Exonians who were buried in “Saints Rest” – giving us a glimpse into their lives more than two centuries ago.

The Dissenters Graveyard, Magdalen Street, is open for visits on Wednesdays and Saturdays 10.00-4.00, should you wish to explore it before or after the talk.

If you are a member of the Exeter Local History Society, tickets are free for you - please select a £0 ticket when registering for the event. If you are not a member of the Society, there is a small (£3) entry fee. If you would like to attend as a non-member, please select a non-member ticket when registering.

More information about the Society and its events can be found on the Society's website at www.exeterlocalhistorysociety.co.uk.

Host or Publisher Exeter Local History Society