Exhibition: Isca Photographic Exhibition

Revealing a century of change; the photographs offer a rare glimpse into life in the city – from changing streetscapes, society portraits, to the devastation of the 1942 Baedeker Raids and the city’s connection with the River Exe.

The Living Archive of Exeter’s Waterfront

This exhibition explores Exeter’s historic relationship with the River Exe and its waterfront – a hub of trade, transport and community life. Through rare photographs, visitors will discover:

* Engineering feats that shaped the city’s bridges, from the 18th-century stone Exe Bridge to its steel successor built for electric trams.

* The bustling quayside, ferries and riverside life during severe winters.
Dramatic events such as the 1917 Exe Bridge tram disaster, captured by Henry Wykes from his studio overlooking the river.

* These images reveal how the waterfront was both a lifeline and a stage for Exeter’s progress, resilience and everyday stories.

This exhibition is located downstairs in the West Front Office immediately left when entering Custom House, Exeter.

Exeter Through the Lens

Step into Exeter’s past through the eyes of its photographers. This exhibition showcases the city’s changing streetscapes, its people, and pivotal moments in history. Highlights include:

* Elegant society portraits and family photographs that reflect Exeter’s social fabric.

* Rare images of the Baedeker Raids of 1942, which devastated the city’s historic heart.

* Scenes of urban transformation through the 1920s and 1930s.
Together, these photographs form a vivid chronicle of Exeter’s identity – its triumphs, tragedies and enduring spirit.

This exhibition is located upstairs in the Surveyors Room at Custom House, Exeter.

About the Isca Photographic Project

The Isca Photographic Collection is one of the most significant visual archives of Exeter’s history, spanning the late 19th to mid-20th centuries. It preserves thousands of glass plate negatives and prints created by local photographers, most notably Henry Wykes (1874–1964), whose work documented the city’s transformation through urban development, social life, and wartime devastation.

This archive offers an unparalleled window into Exeter’s cultural heritage, capturing both extraordinary events and everyday moments.
The Isca Photographic Collection Project is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to preserve an irreplaceable record of twentieth-century Exeter.

The project builds on the foundational work of historian and photographer Peter Thomas who created the Isca collection. It is supported by both the Friends of Devon’s Archives and The Exeter Canal & Quay Trust.

Open 11.00 am – 4.00 pm, Thursday – Sunday. FREE