About the Exhibitions
The Isca Photographic Collections were displayed at Custom House, Exeter, through two complementary exhibitions that together offered a rich visual exploration of the city and its relationship with the River Exe.
Exeter Through the Lens invited visitors to step back in time through rare and evocative photographs that captured Exeter’s changing streetscapes, elegant society portraits, the impact of the Baedeker Raids of 1942, and the city’s long connection to the River Exe. The exhibition charted a century of transformation – capturing the people, places, and pivotal moments that shaped Exeter’s identity.
The Living Archive of Exeter’s Waterfront focused on the evolving riverside from the early 20th century to the post-war years. The photographs offered glimpses of everyday life, industry, and change along the Exe, including the bustling quayside, city bridges, ferries, and key events such as the 1917 Exe Bridge tram disaster.
Couples enjoy a leisurely day in rowing boats along the River Exe. In the distance, the Custom House stands proudly on the right, and on the left some of Exeter’s fine quayside warehouses can be seen. Captured on a glass plate negative, this image is thought to be the work of local photographer Henry Wykes. By the mid-20th century, the Port of Exeter was nearing the end of its working life, marking the close of an era in the city’s maritime history.
The Last Electric Tram in Service, Exeter, 19 August 1931
Glass plate negative
Aerial View of the Custom House and Exeter Quay, c.1920
This striking photograph shows the Custom House when it was still a working building. The image was taken by Henry Wykes who was one of the South West’s most prolific aerial photographers. Wykes inherited his passion for flying from his father, a pilot, and continued aerial photography well into later life. With the help of his son-in-law, who also held a pilot’s licence, Wykes kept flying until 1954 making him, at 80 years old, the oldest aerial photographer in the country at that time.
Society Wedding at Exeter Cathedral, 1929
Glass plate negative
Miss Eve Cecil, daughter of the Bishop of Exeter, married Commander Richard Shelley, RN, in a grand ceremony attended by 1,400 guests.
Circus elephants pay a visit to the Odeon Cinema, 1939
Glass plate negative
Gallery
This exhibition was supported by
