Zoom talk.
Prof James Clark, with perspectives from the new investigations of postgraduate research students at the University of Exeter
Devon’s history of medieval monasteries ended abruptly: a continuous presence in the county for more than four and a half centuries was cut away in a little over three weeks in February and March 1539. Fittingly perhaps, the last left standing had also been the last to settle in the county in the thirteenth century, the Cistercian monks of Buckland and Newenham whose abbeys were positioned on the county’s western and eastern borders. In many cases the removal of even a footprint of the churches and convent buildings has been almost as clinical. It would challenge today’s visitors to Exeter and Plymouth to conjure up the monastic skyline recognised by their Tudor predecessors. Now, as a result of fresh archaeological and archival research, the story of the fall of Devon’s religious houses can be traced more fully and in sharper focus than in previous generations. In this lecture Exeter University historian James Clark will present findings from case-studies underway across the region, from east (Dunkeswell, Forde, Newenham) to west (Buckland, Tavistock), north (Barnstaple, Pilton) to south (Plympton, Torre) as well as Exeter and Plymouth.
This is a joint event with the Historical Association local groups in Exeter and Plymouth.
Free to DHS and Historical Association members, £4.00 for non-members
Please book via 
Those interested in this event may like to know that the Centre for Medieval Studies are running a series of seminars this winter/spring. In particular on 29 March the seminar is titled ‘Henry VIII and the Religious Orders’. See here for more information.