Exeter and the Great Exhibition: 170 years on

A Zoom talk presented by Emma Laws – Exeter Cathedral Librarian.

The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations opened in Hyde Park, London, on 1 May 1851. It was spearheaded by Prince Albert and members of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (later the Royal Society of Arts), including Sir Henry Cole. The Crystal Palace – an incredible cast iron and glass structure, measuring 1,848 feet long and 454 feet wide – was constructed in just nine months. The Great Exhibition was to be a ‘wonder of the world’ – a celebration of international industrial design and technology with exhibits from all corners of the earth. But, principally, it was to be a grandstand for Britain and for British manufacturing – and towns and cities across the country – including Exeter – were keen to be involved.

Emma Laws started her career at the Royal Library, Windsor Castle and then she became curator of children’s books and illustration at the Victoria and Albert Museum for over 20 years. She has published widely, particularly on Beatrix Potter, Edward Ardizzone and Walter Crane, and co-authored a major new book on the classic Winnie-the-Pooh stories of A. A. Milne and E. H. Shepard (V&A Publishing 2017). After a time serving as Director of Collections and Research at the Devon and Exeter Institution, Emma moved across the Green in 2022 to Exeter Cathedral to become its Librarian.

Please book with the organiser (details below) by a day before the event. You will be sent a link to access the Zoom session. There is no charge for DA members; the price for non-members is £2.50.

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