Bedford House

Performance Spaces

Overview

History

Bibliographic Sources

Legend
map legend

Base layers

Data layers

Other Images

16th c. map of Exeter
16th c. view
Tag this record 

Venue Type & Location

Private Residence

Site Name: Bedford House
Location: Exeter
County: Exeter (city-county) in Devon
Location Type: Town - in town at determined location

Overview

The former house of the Dominican priory was located on an extensive site beside the city wall N of Exeter Cathedral.

Performance History

Possible performance venue. Relevant household accounts have not been discovered for the Russell family but entertainers under their patronage appeared elsewhere in the 16th c. It is likely that these performers also entertained their patrons at one or more of the Russell residences.

Current Status

Demolished.

History of the Venue

1539 Dominican priory acquired by John, Baron Russell (later 3rd Earl of Bedford), after the Dissolution and converted into a town house.

by 18th c. Converted into tenements.

1773 Demolished to make way for Bedford Circus, elegant Georgian houses on an oval plan.

Record Source

REED Bristol 51; Devon 41; Norwich 34; Shropshire 1.203

Patrons who owned this venue

Name Dates Titles
Russell, Francis 1526-1585 Lord , Baron , 4th Earl of
Russell, John 1485-1555 Knight , Baron , Knight of the Garter , 3rd Earl of

Bibliographic Sources

View a list of abbreviations.

  • Cherry, Bridget, and Nikolaus Pevsner. Devon. The Buildings of England. London: Penguin Books, 1989.
  • Hooker, John. Isca Damnoniorum ... Latine Exonia, Anglice Exeancestre vel Exestre at nunc vulgo Exeter.... London: npub, 1587.
  • Leland, John. The Itinerary of John Leland in or about the Years 1535–1543. Lucy Toulmin Smith, ed. 5 vols. London: Centaur, 1964.
  • Portman, D. Exeter Houses 1400–1700. Exeter: U of Exeter P, 1966.
  • Thomson, Gladys Scott. 'Exeter and the Russell Earls of Bedford.' Devon and Cornwall Notes and Queries 17 (1932–3): 13–30.