Here we are, right in front of the Royal Albert Memorial Museum - or as everyone calls it, RAMM. To spot this treasure chest of a building, look up to your left and feast your eyes on its grand, Gothic Revival façade. It’s made of red and creamy sandstone, with rows of pointed arches and stone carvings that look like they should belong in a storybook. If you squint just right, you might spot the big round rose window right in the middle of all those turrets and spiky towers. RAMM is the tallest, grandest building around this corner - trust me, it’s hard to miss.
Now, let’s step into the story. Cast your mind back to the 1800s: imagine a bustling week, horse hooves echoing on cobbles, and workers scrambling to put the finishing touches on this grand museum.. This mammoth building was born from a big idea: let’s pile every bit of Exeter’s curiosity and creativity into one magical place! Local MP Richard Sommers Gard donated the land, and a design competition whipped up the most dramatic blueprints. The winner, John Hayward, wanted to plop a huge tower on top, but the city said, “Let’s keep things a *tiny* bit less Hogwarts,” so we’re left with the gables and the beautiful rose window instead.
When the RAMM opened in 1868, it was Exeter's ultimate adventure room. There were paintings, old bones, glittering stones, and yes-a library, a reading room, a school of art and engineering, all under one Gothic roof. Sometimes it seems like the only thing that DIDN’T end up inside were the city’s sheep! Over the decades, RAMM grew and expanded. It became the launchpad for much of Exeter’s cultural life. The city’s university, the library, even the college of art-yep, they all had their roots here!
Just imagine the sound of delighted visitors over the years, the gasps when they first saw a shimmering fossil or an ancient artifact dug from the ground. With millions of objects (everything from ancient Roman coins to mysterious sea stars in jars), there’s always something to ignite your curiosity.
RAMM nearly burst at the seams more than once, leading to bigger and grander rooms. The latest transformation finished in 2011: an epic four-year, £24 million makeover that washed away the dust and made room for even wilder exhibits. Today you can explore creatures old and new, wander through the art galleries, or even meet Percy Sladen’s sea stars-considered the best echinoderm collection this side of any national museum.
Best of all, RAMM’s collections are now open access-they want the world to know that Exeter’s stories are for everyone. So, if you ever wanted to discover ancient treasures, marvel at natural wonders, or see art up close-all you have to do is step inside.
And don’t worry: admission is totally free. Step across the threshold and who knows what curious creature (or ancient artifact) will become your favorite? If you listen carefully as you go in, you might even hear the whispers of old curators, still dusting exhibits and telling tales-after all, a building this grand doesn’t sleep quietly..
