University Archive

The origins of the University of Exeter lie a century before the award of university status, in the Schools of Art and Science, founded in 1855 and 1863 respectively. In 1868, the two schools moved into the Albert Memorial Museum in the centre of Exeter and, in 1893, became the Exeter Technical and University Extension College, subsequently re-named and Royal Albert Memorial College. The University College for the South West of England came into being in 1922, the same year as the inital acquisition of property on the Streatham Estate overlooking the city. Much of the university's historic archive was destroyed in air raids during 1942, in which the Registry at Gandy Street was completely flattened. Full university status was finally conferred as the University of Exeter in 1955. The previously separate St Luke's College of Education (previously the Exeter Diocesan Training College) merged with the University in 1978.