Tales from a Devon kitchen: Exploring Devon’s food history

Join us in Torquay Museum's Pengelly Hall for a special lecture highlighting the often overlooked history of the Devon kitchen.
About this Event

This lecture is part of our Heritage Open Days offer, inspired by this year’s festival theme ‘Everyday Histories.’

Inspired by artefacts and notebooks from Charles Hay Laycock's Devon folk life collection, Dr Paul Cleave, from the University of Exeter, will look at Devon’s evolving food history and the stories behind some of the seemingly everyday fare eaten in the Devonshire farmhouse and cottage. Drawing on his current research, Dr Cleave will explore how the routine of kitchen and dairy, the sustenance for the harvest field, and the frawsy (a treat or small feast) reveals a culinary legacy which belies a deep relationship between people, place, and their food. Visit our Old Devon Farmhouse gallery afterwards to explore a reconstruction of the Devon kitchen in person.

You are welcome to explore the galleries for free, as part of your booking.