One of the city's great treasures, the panelling in Derby Museum's Bonnie Prince Charlie Room comes from the drawing room of Exeter House which stood on Full Street from the early 17th century until its demolition in 1854. The house seems to have been the largest townhouse in Derby and underwent several phases of remodelling.

When Prince Charles Edward Stuart occupied the house in 1745 it was owned by the 8th Earl of Exeter, who, although a Tory, must later have been embarrassed by his house's association with the rebellion: he began letting the property - notably to Jedediah Strutt's father-in-law - shortly after. 

The oak panelling probably dates to a remodelling of about 1710, and adorned a chamber overlooking the Derwent in which the Prince was forced into the decision to order a retreat northwards from Derby.

The panelling's preservation is fundamentally linked to the story of Derby Museum. Exeter House, then owned by William Mousley, twice Mayor of Derby, had become too large for maintenance, and its site obstructed plans for improvements to Exeter Bridge - also named after the house's former owner. In advance of the demolition, the panelling was to be sold piecemeal to various buyers. In Derby Museum a letter exists testifying that various local notables, including M T Bass, the Earl of Chesterfield, and William Bemrose, all came together to save the panelling. Mr Mousley cancelled his sales in appreciation of the need to keep the valuable historic relic in Derby. Stored in the cellars of Derby Assembly Rooms until 1879, the panelling was in that year installed faithfully in the new Derby Free Library and Museum by Michael Bass. Here it remains, on display as the Bonnie Prince Charlie Room since 1995.

The preservation of the panelling prompted other donations of related items to the Museum: Earl Stanhope of Chesterfield sent a fine Jacobite medal, for instance, still visible in the Museum. He also brought the panelling to the attention of Queen Victoria, who in 1873 kindly sent a letter in Bonnie Prince Charlie's hand, complete with seal and signature, as a gift to Derby from her private collection.

Currently to be found in the Bonnie Prince Charlie Room at Derby Museum and Art Gallery.

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