9th May 2026, 9:30 am
The symposium explores the rich and evolving identity of Devon’s people from the Palaeolithic era to today. Through archaeology, history and cultural studies we will examine how geography, migration, trade, and socio-economic shifts shaped Devon’s distinct regional character. The event will highlight key transitions, from early hunter-gatherers and Roman influences to medieval trade networks and the rise of tourism, offering a cohesive narrative of Devon’s cultural legacy.
Programme
| 9:30 – 10:00am | REGISTRATION and Coffee | |
| 10:00 – 10:10am | Welcome and introduction | Nick Powe DL, DA President |
| 10:10 – 10:45am | Same Caves, Different People: Kents Cavern Through Deep Time | Dr Helen Fewlass, Lecturer in Archaeology, University of Bristol |
| 10:45 – 11:20am | Roman Devon: Integration and resistance | Professor Stephen Rippon, Professor of Landscape Archaeology, University of Exeter |
| 11:20 – 11:35am | BREAK | |
| 11:35 – 12:10pm | The Archaeology of Regional Cultures in Medieval Devon | John Allan, Exeter Cathedral Archaeologist |
| 12:10 – 12:45pm | New Horizons and Early Modern Devon | Dr Todd Gray MBE, Historian and writer |
| 12:45 – 1:45pm | LUNCH | |
| 1:45 – 2:20pm | ‘No lack of objects of curiosity’: Travellers, Tourists and Devon’s cultural identity | Dr Rosemary Yallop, Architectural Historian |
| 2:20 – 3:00pm | PANEL DISCUSSION | |
| 3:00 – 3:30pm | CREAM TEA |
Tickets at £27.50 each for DA members and £32.50 for non-members to include morning coffee,
lunch, afternoon tea and free access to the museum galleries. Non-DA members are welcome.
For more information or to book: https://devonassoc.org.uk/presidents-symposium-may-2026/
Torquay Museum
Torquay Museum,<br class="d-lg-none" />529 Babbacombe Rd,<br class="d-lg-none" />Torquay, TQ1 1HG.
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