You may not know how much of a fan of nuns I am, but my friends and family certainly do. I was recently lucky enough to attend a talk on Devon’s medieval nunneries by Des Atkinson at St. Nicholas Priory, which is tucked away from Fore Street. This is the oldest building in Exeter: the site was founded as a Benedictine Monastery in 1087 by William the Conqueror to give thanks for his victory. It was the daughter house of Battle Abbey in Sussex (which is why it’s a Priory and not an abbey.) The first curator, Miss Tothill, had a pet raven, Martha, who was famous in her own right. She was a well-loved figure in the community, working tirelessly to preserve the priory.
The West Wing is free to visit on Sundays and Mondays, so why not make a morning or whole day of it with a coffee at one of the indie cafés like Sacred Grounds or The Glorious Arthouse, just opposite? They also host events throughout the year and welcome new volunteers to help with stewarding events and other tasks. There are opportunities for internships at the Priory, some of which have been sponsored by the University of Exeter in the past. See https://nicholaspriory.com/ for more information.
