Exeter Tramway Co
1881 An Act of Parliament "for making tramways in the county of Devon to be called Exeter Tramways". Under this the council gave 21 years of running powers over Exeter's streets. The rights were assigned to a commercial company, the Exeter Tramway Co.
The first directors were William Leigh Bernard, W. Standing, and W. M. Wood. The Manager and Inspector was S. H. Culley and the Secretary was J. Lord. The company was formed at a meeting at the Black Horse Inn on Longbrook Street on 15 November 1881.
Construction of the tramway began on 3 January 1882
It commenced horse-drawn tramway services on 6 April 1882
The Company was subject to a Compulsory Winding Up Order dated 10 March 1888 and attempts by the Liquidator to find a buyer were unsuccessful. The Company was dissolved by the High Court on 7 August 1889.
In 1892 it was taken over by the Tramway Purchase Syndicate and leased to Frederick Burt and Co.
1904 Taken over by Exeter Corporation Tramways