The Streatham Campus takes shape... 1960 to 1970
"...a gypsy's warning not to have any truck with electronically operated blinds, or turnstiles, and do not have your issue desk within 15 feet of the open air, however many lines of glass doors and concentration of heating the architect promises you."
The poet (and Hull Librarian) Philip Larkin's advice to Exeter's Librarian on construction of the new Library.
The 1960s were a 'golden age' for University expansion with more government funds being put into higher education. Most of the University's major buildings were completed in this decade and student numbers rose from 1,400 to nearly 3,300
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| Students in Roborough Library, 1967. |
New halls of residence were built in the grounds of Duryard House between 1963 and 1964. The Birks Halls followed in 1965-66. Northcote House, the University's main administrative building, was completed in 1960, enabling the administration to move on to the campus. It was named after Sir Stafford Northcote. Also completed that year was Devonshire House (named after Mary, Dowager Duchess of Devonshire) and the refectory. Devonshire House provided space for student social activities.
Between 1963 and 1968 another ten important buildings were completed. The Great Hall opened in 1964 and the Chemistry building followed a year later together with the Newman building (named after Professor F H Newman, Professor of Physics 1923-52). The second University Library was also completed in 1965. The Physics building was finished in 1967, together with the Mathematics and Geology Building, the Northcott Theatre, the Sports Hall and Streatham Court. The Applied Sciences (Engineering) building opened in 1968.
'I was better known for my various and varied cars than academic achievements. For the Summer Ball the head porter requested that the Rolls Royce Hearse, which had decorated the car park all that term, be moved to increase the available car parking spaces somewhat.'
Brian 'Biz' Bizzell, Maths and Physics 1964
By the end of the decade Exeter had become one of the most popular universities in the country with applications reaching a peak of 15:1 in 1965.
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