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Caption

  • Large, intricate model of Exeter from the early 19th century, showing city walls, the Cathedral, and houses in detail.
  • Close-up on Exeter Cathedral from a large, intricate model of Exeter from the early 19th century.
  • Exeter Cathedral viewed over the tops of houses in a large, intricate model of Exeter from the early 19th century.
  • Front view of a large intricate model of Exeter from the early 19th century placed on white tissue paper on a table.
  • Aerial view of a large intricate model of Exeter from the early 19th century placed on white tissue paper on a table.

Hedgeland model of Exeter

Caleb Hedgeland

1817–24

Wood, paint

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Description

The Hedgeland model of Exeter is one of the earliest surviving models of any town in Britain. It is the only one of its kind in the country.

The model was constructed by Caleb Hedgeland between 1817 and 1824. He depicted the city as he remembered it from his childhood during the late 1700s. Consequently, it is the only record of many buildings and streets which were later demolished.

The detail is such that you can even see other objects from RAMM’s collection. The statue of St Peter, located near to the model in the gallery, used to live on the High Street of Exeter. You can see the statue on the model in miniature form where it used to live.

Visual description: A model city constructed from wood. It is painted and carved to represent buildings, streets and city walls. Each building is painted in soft earth tones, with lighter shades for stone structures and darker browns for wooden ones.

The model features hundreds of tiny buildings, laid out along narrow streets. Near the centre, Exeter Cathedral stands out and towers above the rest of the buildings in the model.

RAMM Treasures Trail - Object 12 - Hedgeland model of Exeter

Learn about the 12th object in our RAMM Treasures of the Museum trail, the Hedgeland model of Exeter.

Treasures of the Museum: Hedgeland Model of Exeter

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Transcript

Ben Clapp: My name is Ben Clapp. I'm a Museum Assistant at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum.

My favourite object at RAMM is the Hedgeland model of Exeter. It is the oldest model of any English city known to exist, and that in itself is a really wonderful thing. More than that, it is a wonderful time capsule of the city's history, which no other city in the country has.

The Hedgeland model is named after Caleb Hedgeland, the maker. He made the model between 1817 and 1824 and set it when he was a child, because he was taken to see the north gate of the city get knocked down, which was the first ever part of the city wall to be destroyed, which was a pivotal moment in Exeter's history.

The Hedgeland model is mostly made of wood, except the towers of the cathedral, which are made of lead. Caleb Hedgeland carved each individual building by hand, even carving out the windows to give a sense of depth. We believe from what his sons recorded many years later, that he made it just for himself, for his memories.

On the model, there are numerous buildings which no other visual representation survives of any kind, so it is extremely important.

The reason I love the model is when you look at it, you will find something new and can compare that to what might be there today or what might have been lost over the last 250 years.

I first saw the Hedgeland model when I was at school, probably around age 10, which would've been the mid '90s. I loved it then. It was like the biggest Lego kit you'd ever seen to a small child. But as I've grown up, and now work at the museum, it's taken on a more personal significance, I think, for someone who has spent so much time learning and talking about Exeter's history.

You can find the model in the Making History galleries. It is near the statue of St Peter, which used to live on the High Street of Exeter and is shown on the model in miniature form where it used to live.

When I talk to people about the model, first of all, they're shocked at its age, but then shocked at some of the other details, such as so little of the old city from the time of the model still survives. And the joy when they get pointed out buildings they do know or places that do survive and they recognise it. So it's a puzzle as well as a tool for many people.

Credits

Watch RAMM staff and volunteers tell us why they love each of the 16 objects, and hear the fascinating stories that make these items so special.

Additional Information

Dimensions
350 x 1500 x 2450 mm
Credit
Purchased with support from the V&A Purchase Grant Fund, the Pilgrim Trust, the Friends of RAMM and the Exeter Civic Society.
Accession Number
29/1993

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