Legacies of Slavery Project

Founded in 1314 by Devon-born Walter de Stapeldon, Exeter College has a rich history which spans more than seven centuries. Like many other higher education establishments in the UK, Exeter College recognises the need to bring greater scrutiny to its own institutional history. In consequence, in March 2020 the College’s Governing Body decided to commission research to determine the extent to which it had been involved in, or benefitted from, the slave trade, the use of enslaved or coerced labour, and any of its associated commercial practices. That research is presented in the Exeter College and the Legacies of Slavery Project Report, available to read here.