Duryard - a Royal Hunting Forest

This area is associated with the University in the north of the city. It was once the hunting land of Anglo-Saxon kings and was in the manor of Duryard. The name comes from the Anglo-Saxon dear (deer) and geard (fold). It stretched from the river on the west to Stoke Hill on the east, and Stoke Woods in the north to the Hoopern Valley just north of the city. The University occupies the southern section of the old forest.

The historian, Professor W G Hoskins thought that King Athelstan may have granted the land to the city around 930. A reference to the name Derard is found in the Cartulary of St Nicholas Priory. After Exeter acquired the manor, the timber was exploited by the city, before the land was sold off in lots towards the end of the 17-Century, as the city went through one of its frequent funding crises.

Great Duryard House was built by the wealthy dyer Sir Thomas Jefford who died in 1703. He was Mayor in 1688 and knighted by James II for his loyalty to the king. In January 1721, Andrew Brice's Post-master ran a notice for an auction for some property at Duryard that was part of the estate of Jefford.

Duryard Lodge was the home of 'Iron' Sam Kingdon, the foundry owner; the house was sold in 1865 after the death of his widow, to Richard Thornton West and was rebuilt and renamed Streatham Hall. It is now called Hope Hall. Duryard Halls, the residence of J K Rowling, Will Young and other University students when undergraduates, closed in 2007 and has been demolished. Duryard Oil Mills was situated on the river just below Cowley Bridge.

In 1897 Duryard was comparatively sparsely populated. The professions of the people who lived there give a good idea of the area.

Dairy man - Cowley Road Lower Duryard
Haulier - Cowley Road
Market gardeners - three in Cowley Road
Private residences - three in private addresses.

The 1919 Kelly's Directory shows a more than doubling in private residences.

Private residences - seven in private addresses
Market gardeners - three
Fruit grower

Duryard Valley Park is one of Exeter's green spaces - much is privately owned but the Belvedire Meadows Local Nature Reserve is open to the public, and the private roads are open for walkers. There is a picnic area off Pennsylvania Road giving fine views across the valley park towards mid Devon.